Interesting offer...

[The Bith Shuffle]

I just got this email:

Hi
I would like us to work together on a business transaction worth millions
of dollars which most likely would result in a trade deal between us from
your country.
This deal will earn you atleast US$3.5M and it has nothing to do with
illicit materials.
For details; contact me at: dominiquewetego@yahoo.com
Dominique Wetego Esq.

I don’t have time for small talks and kidding around, if you are not
serious, please don’t reply and delete this message.


I'm having some financial hard times, so three and a half million dollars could really help me. He's probably just using the term "your country" to seem personal - he wants the discussion to be personal, about me and him - rather than macroeconomic. I get the impression that he has my best interests at heart.

He also seems like a rather moral character. He says the transaction will have "nothing to do with illicit materials". I'm glad; I wouldn't want to do anything that would harm the integrity of my country. He also isn't one for "kidding around", indicating that he wants the gravity of this transaction to be taken seriously.

What are your thoughts? I'm thinking of going for it.

[Baracus]

The dude signs his name with "Esq" so you know he has got to be legit. Please see if he is interested in any additional business partners.

[Mr. Miskatonic]

I love the lazy scammers, spammers, and phishers - their ineptitude is hilarious:

"Helo, this is Comerse Bank, rcntly we aded new sekurity feetures to our system & u must update by cliking on ths link and entering your paswrd, accnt numer, and soshal security number -Thnks Comersse Bank Securitee"

[EvilTOJ]

I always use business partners that use only a yahoo.com email address. He said it has nothing to do with illicit materials, I bet he's legit.

[Mindfield]

I dunno, man. I'd find out where he went to law school. You've gotta be sure his legal education was good enough to give him the tools he needs to enact lucrative international trade agreements. You don't want to get all into this and then the US goes and whips out a trade embargo against the country because their toys are painted with materials that contain strychnine or something.

Also, look into his family. I'd be wary of dealing with anyone whose parents named their son "Dominique." Could have caused some long-term mental issues, y'know.

[Mangetout]

I love the lazy scammers, spammers, and phishers - their ineptitude is hilariousTrue, and it makes it all the more astonishing that some complete suckers do in fact fall for the scam.

[ianzin]

I am appalled that we seem to live in such a bitter, twisted and cynical age that even simple proposals like this are met with such doubt and suspicion. What have we come to, what dark shadows lurk in our hearts, that we must forever be so snide and suspicious when well-meaning people reach out to us and offer to share their good fortune with us?

It is very likely that this 'Dominique' fellow is honest and hard-working, and simply wants to offer you a straightforward business transaction that will net you 3.5 million dollars. This is quite common, and nothing to get nasty and suspicious about. If there were any illicit materials involved, that would be an entirely different matter, but there aren't (it say so, right there in the letter... are you all blind?!) so you can relax knowing that it's all on the level. If you miss out on this marvellous opportunity, I expect you'll regret it later on.

[corkboard]

I think you should go for it, but if you don't, please forward me his email. I was just thinking last night about a few things I need and coincidentally they came to just under $3.5M, so that would be perfect.

Thanks.

[MeanOldLady]

I am appalled that we seem to live in such a bitter, twisted and cynical age that even simple proposals like this are met with such doubt and suspicion. What have we come to, what dark shadows lurk in our hearts, that we must forever be so snide and suspicious when well-meaning people reach out to us and offer to share their good fortune with us?Seriously! Dominique has been very frank, and to the point. He explicitly stated that he has little time for small talks, and is not kidding. Scammers typically say things like "I have time to dick around, and this is total bullshit." Spotting a scam can be tricky, but after seeing enough of them, you know what to look for. Please come back and tell us what you've done with the money, Bith!

[Mindfield]

I am appalled that we seem to live in such a bitter, twisted and cynical age that even simple proposals like this are met with such doubt and suspicion. What have we come to, what dark shadows lurk in our hearts, that we must forever be so snide and suspicious when well-meaning people reach out to us and offer to share their good fortune with us?

You're probably right. But after that last deal I had going with an unfortunate member of a royal family who was trapped and needed to get some money out of the country to protect it from a rapacious extended family appealing decisions in a will went south after he was brutally assassinated, I get a little skittish. I know it wasn't the guy's fault, he had some evil relatives who just wanted all the money to themselves and killed him to get it, so I can't get angry that I lost a couple hundred grand on the deal, but I just can't go throwing that kind of money around every day. You just gotta be a little careful and make sure things are on the up and up. I'm sure this guy is just trying to get some good international will going with some lucrative and mutually beneficial trade of perfectly harmless goods.

[Malleus, Incus, Stapes!]

You heard him. Don't waste his time and kid around. Don't sign your emails "Charles Manson", or claim you have keyboard Tourette's, or ask him if he's a certified capriphillic dissembler (you don't do business with uncertified ones). Certaintly don't keep going back to your boss, who takes ages to answer questions, whenever he asks you to do something. And use regular Western Union instead of dodgy money transfer sites like this (http://secureptv.info/) (the baiter puts in the details here (http://www.spyrkes.info/sptvbaiter/login.php)).

Really. Don't.

[Heart of Dorkness]

I think you're all missing a very important point here: it's "atleast US$3.5M" - it could be even more!

[The Great Sun Jester]

True, and it makes it all the more astonishing that some complete suckers do in fact fall for the scam.To paraphrase George Carlin: Think about just how dumb the average person is. And then realize that half the people you see are dumber than that!

[badbadrubberpiggy]

I find the Yahoo! address particularly trustworthy.

By using a free e-mail address, they're obviously smart about money, and they can pass the savings onto you, the customer!

Besides, nobody would do something untrustworth this close to Christmas, especially not in your country, so you should definitely go for it.

[aruvqan]

You know what is sort of scary?

I would be willing to bet that dopers of negotiable honesty could put together a nigerian scam that would appear perfectly legal, and would at surface value check out ... web page with a serious sounding name, email to match, proper wording without the nigerianisms .... and would sound reasonably logical - not millions of dollars, but something smaller.

[Sigmagirl]

To paraphrase George Carlin: Think about just how dumb the average person is. And then realize that half the people you see are dumber than that!

No, I'm pretty sure that at least three-quarters of the people I see are dumber than average.

Wait. That didn't come out right.

[The Bith Shuffle]

No, I'm pretty sure that at least three-quarters of the people I see are dumber than average.

Wait. That didn't come out right.

Just checking - really - but you're aware that there's nothing absurd about that idea? The idea that 3/4 if the people that you see are dumber than average?

[PoorYorick]

I think you should go for it, but if you don't, please forward me his email..
Better yet, why don't you go ahead and forward it to everyone in your contact list? I'm sure they'll also appreciate the opportunity.

[MeanOldLady]

You know what is sort of scary?

I would be willing to bet that dopers of negotiable honesty could put together a nigerian scam that would appear perfectly legal, and would at surface value check out ... web page with a serious sounding name, email to match, proper wording without the nigerianisms .... and would sound reasonably logical - not millions of dollars, but something smaller.Hmm, I could afford to supplement my income. I usually employ the term "morally flexible," but "of negotiable honesty" works just the same.

[Sigmagirl]

Just checking - really - but you're aware that there's nothing absurd about that idea? The idea that 3/4 if the people that you see are dumber than average?

Yes. ;)

[Bootis]

Better yet, why don't you go ahead and forward it to everyone in your contact list? I'm sure they'll also appreciate the opportunity.

I'm pretty sure this Lawyer would file any such action as "kidding around", something He clearly instructed the OP not to do. A deal like this is not something that Lawyer is just going to throw to the wind for any random fool to capitalize on. That's simply not smart business. He specifically contacted the OP no doubt after research indicated him to be an ideal partner for non-illicit trans-national business trading.
Mark my words, all forwarding this offer on to third parties will accomplish is costing the OP 3.5 million dollars. The offer will be withdrawn. How about limiting the financial advice to coming from Lawyers like Dominique Wetego, and not jealous schmucks like you.

[Attack from the 3rd dimension]

I was walking the streets of Vancouver last week and a disheveled gentleman on a mountain bike rode past, circled and yelled : "Do ya wanna buy a mountain bike? Forty dollars! Its not stolen!."

I merely point this out as another example of honest people working hard to overcome our cynicism.

[Shagnasty]

I hate to break it to you but this is a scam for sure. I participated in one almost exactly like it three years ago. I did everything they asked to the letter and only ended up with $2 million before they took off. I never did collect that last $1.5 million and assume I will never see it. There is no way I am going through days worth of work for a mere $2 million ever again.

[IvoryTowerDenizen]

Also, look into his family. I'd be wary of dealing with anyone whose parents named their son "Dominique." Could have caused some long-term mental issues, y'know.

How do you know it's a son?


:dubious:

:D

[The Great Sun Jester]

Just checking - really - but you're aware that there's nothing absurd about that idea? The idea that 3/4 if the people that you see are dumber than average?My head just a'sploded. That would make realy smart people significantly bigger freaks than pretty stupid people cuz they are bending the curve. It's time to separate into subspecies.

[MeanOldLady]

There is no way I am going through days worth of work for a mere $2 million ever again.What a horrible indignity you have suffered!

[ianzin]

I find the Yahoo! address particularly trustworthy.

By using a free e-mail address, they're obviously smart about money, and they can pass the savings onto you, the customer! A good point. I also think it's a good sign that this generous Dominique character is so keen to get things moving and hand over the money. Some people in his situation might want to slow down the whole process with tedious paperwork, independently verifable bona fides, legal representative, contracts, escrow agencies and so on. Not our Dominique! He's a 'make it happen' 'get things moving!' kind of guy who doesn't want to waste time. Proving he's not only generous, but wants to be generous quickly. I can't speak for the rest of you, but personally I find this attitude very refreshing.

Bith is very lucky, and would obviously be a fool to miss this kind of golden opportunity. Maybe the rest of us, who have participated in this thread and helped guide Bith towards the right decision, will be in for a modest financial reward for our help and guidance?

[Elendil's Heir]

You know what is sort of scary?

I would be willing to bet that dopers of negotiable honesty could put together a nigerian scam that would appear perfectly legal, and would at surface value check out ... web page with a serious sounding name, email to match, proper wording without the nigerianisms .... and would sound reasonably logical - not millions of dollars, but something smaller.

That was my business model first, bucko. Back off! :mad:

[badbadrubberpiggy]

How do you know it's a son?


:dubious:

:D

And how do you know he's an it.

I really think we need to stop making assumptions about Dominique. Clearly, English is not his first language, which I find rather comforting. With all the troubles US banks are having these days, wouldn't you rather do business with a small foreign country?

[The Bith Shuffle]

My head just a'sploded. That would make realy smart people significantly bigger freaks than pretty stupid people cuz they are bending the curve. It's time to separate into subspecies.

I was thinking of the different levels of intelligence that different people might be exposed to on a daily basis. Someone who works at McDonald's might very well deal with mostly below-average people on a daily basis. Not so an MIT physics prof.