Received this today via my company’s general E-mail account:
It’s a bit hard to tell from the tortured syntax, but it appears this person somehow thinks we’re going to agree to perform some sort of months-long training course for six people we’ve never heard of, at our expense. Yeah, right.
I’m especially amused thast an industry professional like ‘Dr.’ Krueger apparently cannot spell the terms ‘petroleum’ and ‘oilfield’.
Hunh, Gaudere’s Law applies in that last sentence. On second glance, it appears that this is some sort of scam to get some Cameroonians residencyh papers.
I especially like the use of “?” in the place of “n”…
defi?ately i?spires co?fide?ce…
LOL
Hey, I’ve been getting those, too! We’ve been forwarding them to the Secret Services. Those things really piss me off because they’re just taking up space in our info box. The good thing is that you never have to read them - they always start with a subject line reading “URGENT ASSISTANCE NEEDED” or something similar. And if you read on, if they say Africa, war-torn or rebel forces, we just automatically send them off.
Although the above is a version I haven’t gotten yet. We usually get the ones asking for a transfer of diamonds to some overseas account in some ridiculously high amount. Do you get those, too?
Er, no. In any event, I seem to be fresh out of diamonds at the moment.
Hrrm I replied with “When come back, bring diamonds.”
I know, I know… Sounds pretty bizarre. But here it is:
Your contact was availed to me by the chamber of commerce. It was given to
me because of my diplomatic status as I did not disclose the actual reasons
for which I sought your contact. But I was assured That you are reputable
and trustworthy if you will be of assistance. I am Karim Kabila (Jnr) the
second son of Late President LAURENT DESIRE KABILA the immediate Past
president of the DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO in Africa who was murdered by
his opposition through his personal bodyguards in his bedroom on Tuesday
16th
January, 2001. I have the privilege of being mandated by my father
colleagues to seek your immediate and urgent co-operation to receive into
your bank account the sum of US $10,000,000(ten million Dollars) and some
thousands carats of Diamond.presently, i am with the nederlands government
seeking for political asylum. This money and treasures was lodged in a vault
with a security firm in the nederlands.
SOURCES OF DIAMONDS AND FUND
In August 2000, my father as a defence minister and president has a meeting
with his cabinet and armychief about the defence budget for 2000 to 2001
which was US $700m. so he directed one of his best friend. Frederic Kibasa
Maliba who was a minister of mines and a political party leader known as the
Union Sacree de,I opposition radicale et ses allies (USORAL) to buy arms
with US $200m on 5th January 2001; for him to finalized the arms
deal,my father was murdered. f.K. Maliba (FKM) and I have decided to keep
the money with a foreigner after which he will use it to contest for the
political election. Inspite of all this we
have resolved to present your or your company for the firm to pay it into
your nominated account the above sum and diamonds. This transaction should
be finalized within seven (7) working days and for your co-operation and
partnership, we have unanimously agreed that you
will be entitled to 5.5% of themoney when successfully receive it in your
account. The nature of your business is not relevant to the successful
execution of this transaction what we require is your total co-operation and
commitment to ensure 100% risk-free transaction at both ends and to protect
the persons involved in this transaction, strict confidence and utmost
secrecy is required even after the successful conclusion of this
transaction. If this proposal is acceptable to you, kindly provide me with
your personal telephone and fax through my E-mail box for
immediate commencement of the transaction. All correspondence is for the
attention of my
counsel: I count on your honour to keep my secret, SECRET. Looking forward
for your urgent reply
Thanks.
Best Regards
KARIM KABILA (Jnr)
Why in the hell did that spammer type the whole thing in all caps and then un-cap for the “r” in “Dr” and then go back to all caps?
(shakes head ruefully)
Sounds like fun with babelfish.
With regards to the OP, it’s a visa scam, they hope to get written invitations to America for an oil industry training course and intend to use those to apply for visas to get into the country, that’s all. It’s a common scam I saw a lot of working overseas, usually used by Canadians to bring their third-world girlfriends into Canada. Single women from many third world countries have a tough time getting tourist visas so Canadians would get an invitation from a Canadian business, on company letterhead, for the girl to come in to attend a training course or translate documents at the home office. Works every time, as far as I know.
This guy is a piker, help someone else. My last offer was 10% of $113 million. He can’t really expect much help for a measly 5.5% on $10 million.
All the best.
Testy
True. Damnit! Now I feel inadequate! I’m going to write back and demand that he transfer more diamonds. Stinking bastige. 
Yeah, I sort of figured that, but obviously criminal masterminds they ain’t. Methinks they’re gonna have to refine their technique considerably if they want someone to go for their proposal.
Re: the more conventional “give me your bank details” scam, I get two or three of those a week, but the diamond angle was one I hadn’t seen before. Color me ignorant, but I was unaware one could deposit diamonds, rather than money, in a bank account.
The worst part of this is that you can never get the satisfaction of replying with a pungently-worded, brilliant riposte. All replies (such as " Sure, you’re the son of Laurent Kabila- and I’m the Queen of Spain") come back as undeliverable.
What is the address to forward them to? I receive about 3 a day at the newspaper email addy that is for readers to send in story ideas. I’d rather forward them to the secret service than just delete them.