Nigerian scam

I got an email last night from a supposed attorney saying that I will inherit so much money from a dead guy who happened to be my same nationality... It was perfect timing because right before receiving that email, I was reading up an article about pranks that scambaiters have used to fight back. It was late so I didn't think to save the email. But I did find one on the web that was almost identical (except for the names, dates, and number). You can check out the whole lettter archive here.

I am barrister [name] a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr [name] a national of your country, who used to work with [company] in SOUTH AFRICA . Here in after shall be referred to as my client.

On the [date], my client, his wife And their three children were involved in a car accident along Cape Town express road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repartrating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confisicated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged.particularly, the citi trust finance company where the deceased had an account valued at about 10million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confisicated within the next ten official working days.

since i have been unsuccesfull in locating the the relatives for over 2 years now i seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at 10million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money. 60% to me and 40% to you I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this dealt through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from anybreach of the law.Please get in touch with me by my email or through my telephone number;+27-73-225-1488 to enable us discuss further.

Best regards,
[name]

What is funny though, this wasn't the first time my family got into this sort of thing. Nick got such an email in 2001, they asked for his bank information by the 2nd email. Since I've never heard of the scam before then, we researched all the names and details presented by the scammer. The guy even sent scanned copies of legit "documents" to prove that we'll get money. The dead guy presented did exist (he was a known gambler in horse racing in the Ivory Coast). We saw articles that proved that his bets made really good money, but there is no way I'm letting Nick send confidential bank information.

Anyway, if you get such emails, please don't believe it. Delete it, or send it to the gallery of nigerian emails. :)

Btw, I know how they got my email. Two weeks ago, I got a hit from a surfer in the Ivory coast through a google search, keywords: searching for email addresses of grease companies 2004. So you know they're really searching for email addresses... ciao.