After all these years, my first scam E-mail

And so I thought I’d celebrate with my first original thread. I have of course been buried in spam like everyone else, but never had anyone try to scam lil 'ole me. Has anyone else recieved this?

From: Almendo

This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the
fact that we have not yet met. The message could be
strange but real if you pay some attention to it. I
could have notified you about it at least for the sake
of your integrity. Please accept my sincere apologies.
In bringing this message of goodwill to you, I have to
say that I have no intentions of causing you any
pains.

I am Mr. A. Savimbi, son of the late rebel leader
Jonas Savimbi of Angola who was killed on the 22nd of
February 2002 . I managed to get your contact details
through the internet myself Time is of the importance
and I was desperately looking for a person to assist
me in this confidential business.

My late father, Jonas Savimbi was able to deposit a
large sum of money in different security firms in
Europe and Ghana. My father is presently death and
the movement of his family members (including me)
is restricted. We are forbidden to either travel
abroad or out of our localities. Presently our
movement are monitored. Right now there is a rush
for all my Father’s wealth but home and Abroad by
the Government who are claiming that most of the
wealth was got by Arms smuggling and therefore
illegal and by my father,s extended family and
relations.

You can know more about my father by checking his
profile at URL below: www.kwacha.com/edoc2.htm

His wealth has been estimated to be $500 million
to over $1 billion and being close to my father
I happen to be in possession of documents
and information of some of the wealth.Approx.
$250 million and only my trusted mother knows
that I have this information.

Presently, the US$100,000,000.00 (One Hundred
Million Dollars) cash and precious materials
my father moved to Europe and Ghana before his
death is deposited with some security firm . Before
you can get access to it I have to give you the
some hits.

I am therefore soliciting your help to travel to
Europe/Ghana in west Africa to recieve this money and
transfer into your account before my government
get wind of this fund .You know my father was a
rebel leader in Angola before his death. My
reason for doing this is because it will be
difficult for the Angolan government to trace
my father’s money to an individual’s account,
especially when such an individual has no
relationship,I decided to keep that money for
my family use. At present the money is kept
with some Security Companies in Europe and
Ghana

I am currently and temporarily living in Angola
and as refugee status,I intend to communication
with you as regards this transaction on a
satellite phone to avoid intervention by anybody.

Moreover, the political climate in Angola at the
moment being so sensitive and unstable.With this
password and information and I will send you a
power of attorney to the security firm, When you
are ready I will give you the information needed
before you can get access to 7,000kg of AU gold dust,
8500kg of pure Diamond and raw cash of USD100 million
America dollars. you will then proceed to Amsterdam/Ghana
for collection.

PLEASE YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY IN THIS TRANSACTION IS
HIGHLY REQUIRED.

It’s been around for years and is known as the Nigerian Scam, as that’s where it originated. Oddly enough, they do apparently get takers.

Recently there has been an upsurge in the scammers’ activities. I find it hard to sympathize with the victims.

I’ve started keeping all the Nigerian Scam letters I get. I think there may be an artistic piece coming from them eventually.

I’ve been following the Nigerian scam since before it went online. In fact, it was through searches for Nigerian scam info that I found both Snopes and the Straight Dope.

My current favorite Nigerian scam site is Scamorama, where you can read about all the latest scam news, as well as some hysterical stories about what happens when people try to scam the scammers.

I got two (Two!) Nigerian Scam letters on Thursday…

Zev Steinhardt

Well I know of a suitcase filled with gold bars (part of the confederate war chest) that was hidden in the Arizona desert by a small rebel contingent after the defeat at Gettysburg. I will meet you near the location and split the treasure with you if you buy my Greyhound bus ticket to Flagstaff and furnish me with money for sandwiches on the way. Not those vending machine sandwiches either, I want a hot burger from a real restaurant like Burger King.

I extend this offer to you because I know that only responsible, honest citizens frequent the SDMB.

As I work for an oilfield services firm, a popular target of the scammers, my company E-mail account gets one or two of these a week.

I got the same message quoted in the OP on June 30th, but supposedly from a Pedro Savimbi.

I too have started collecting these things. From 28 April 2002 to date, I’ve gotten 12 such letters from different parties. Here are some stats.

Purported location of funds:

Nigeria: 4
Sierra Leone: 2
Angola: 1
Saudi Arabia: 1
South Africa: 1
Zimbabwe: 1
Country not stated: 2
Domain from which scam E-mail was sent:

Yahoo.com; Yahoo.co.uk; 7
Lycos.com: 2
Other: 3

Total amount of funds claimed to be “overinvoiced”, “unclaimed”, etc.: $361.45 million (every such letter I’ve ever seen states the amount in USD)

High: $100 million
Low: $9.5 million
Average: $30.12 million

Usual split to me of funds available: 15%

Total proceeds supposedly to be paid to me for use of my bank account: $54.22 million (geez, since my checking account rarely gets above 3K, wouldn’t the authorities notice this?)

Number of grammar/spelling errors: as many as there are grains of sand on Myrtle Beach

Somehow I’ve resisted the temptation to reply, despite watching my 401(k) go further in the tank every day…

Arnold, I’m interested in your offer, but, I need some proof. Tell you what, go out there, get 1 gold bar and send it to me. After I ascertain it’s purity and value I’ll contact you about the bus ticket. Heck, I’ll even take you to Steak ‘n’ Shake if it pans out. :smiley:

I want a scam e-mail! I want to be offered imaginary riches in exchange for stupid behaviors. Doesn’t anybody want to screw me?! :frowning: