OT: My very first South African Scam Letter!

Whistle
1

I was beginning to feel so out of the loop, as I’d never received one of these. My feelings were starting to feel hurt… :stuck_out_tongue: Here is the version I got-- I wish I could come up with some really clever response like so many of you have!! :smiley:

RAYMOND SMITH
TEL: 27-73 2296379
FAX: 27-11-507-5714
No 45 SMITH AVENUE
PARKTOWN JOHANNESBURG
SOUTH AFRICA.



URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP



I am Mr. Raymond Smith Director project implementation with Eskom South Africa and a member of the Contract Tenders Board (CTB) of the above corporation.


Your esteemed address wais reliably introduced to me at the South Africa Chamber of Commerce and Industry in my search for a reliable individual company who can handle a strictly confidential transaction, which involves the transfer of a reasonable sum of money to a foreign account


This amount of money is total sum of US$13,500,000.00 (Thirteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars), already extracted from various contracts awarded by my corporation. As a result of over-invoicing masterminded by the concerned officials, has been drafted to represent final payment for a contract that has been executed to the corporation some years back. The money is now floating in the suspense account of Federal Reserve Bank of South Africa awaiting claim by Foreign Partner which status we now want you to assume.


Now is the optimum period to consummate this transaction. Following the presidential directive to all parastatals to settle all outstanding debts owed to both local and foreign contractors. In my last meeting with the officials involved, it was unanimously agreed that 25% of the total sum will be given to you. 70% will be for my colleague, and me. While 5% will he used to reimburse the expenses that may be incurred in the processing of the transfer.


I assure you the transaction is 100% risk free as we have concluded every arrangement to protect the interest of every one involved. Likewise, all modalities for the successful transfer of this money have been worked out with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Federal Reserve Bank of South Africa to facilitate the remittance of this money to your designated account.


However. I would want to believe that you are honest enough and will not raise any misgiving attitude in any aspect of the transaction, more importantly, you will keep this transaction very confidential so as not to tarnish the confidence reposed on these official by the Government of South Africa.


lf this business proposal is of interest to you, then kindly contact me via telephone or fax number above.


Meanwhile, your immediate response will be highly appreciated. Please treat this information as confidential.



Best regards,



MR RAYMOND SMITH



In laughter,
Andrea ~*~

2

But it’s from South Africa rather than Nigeria! In the Nigerian scams we always hear that if someone falls for the scam and actually goes to Nigeria, they always end up getting blackmailed, threatened by corrupt police, or even worse. Would those kind of actions really be feasible in SA? I always thought of SA as more … civilized (as long as you don’t go near the “bad” places).

3

I’ve had these scam letters from Nigeria, Zimbabwe and somewhere else. Great fun - I guess if they were written in correct English people could fall for them, but ending up on the wrong end of the Nigerian police service doesn’t sound like fun at all.

4

Here’s one which came to my box just this morning:

ATTENTION PLEASE


Dear,Sir
I know that this message found you with mixed emotion
as we have not had any previous correspondence.
However I got your contact address through my search
for a reliable Foreign business Associate in whom I
can confide with. Consequently I decided against every
odd to write you regarding this transaction after a
very prolonged time on indecision. Therefore, I am
disclosing this issue to you beleiving very well that
you can be trusted and can be of honest assistance to
my predicament. I understand also that people from
your country are very much reliable,transparent and
fully trustworthy to engage in a huge business like
mine.

My name is Prince Diop Seko.The fifth son to
the former President and head of states,Democratic
republic of Congo (Known as Zaire)His excellency
Dr.Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu Wa Za Bang (Full
Name). You see, my father acquired the sum of
twenty-five million united states dollars
(US$25,000,000) cash. Also he tactically defaced the
funds and stashed them inside a security trunk box so
that it would enable him move the Money out of Zairean
shores without the actual contents of the consignment
being detected. Fortunately enough and owing to his
political power and influence throughout Africa and
the world in general, he succeeded and finally
deposited the consignment in a security company in
Dakar, the capital city of Republic of Senegal (West
Africa). This contents of this consignment was
deposited and registered at the security company as
“Family Effects”.

Unfortunately he suffered and died of Prostate cancer
during our exile in Casablanca,Morocco after he was
dethroned by some rebels led by Late President Kabila.
Following his sudden death and the political problems
he faced,he was buried at Rabat,Morroco instead of a
state burial in Zaire. The government of Zaire had
also insisted that all our properties at home and
abroad were confiscated as well and bank accounts
holden in our names frozen.

Consequently I decided to travel to Dakar in order to
secure this remaining treasures where my final hope
with that of my old mother lies.This funds in question
has been lying in the security company since the death
of my father and unknown to other extended family
members. Meanwhile my dilemma now is how to handle
this huge amount alone and without any proper business
initiatives as I do not have anybody to confide in
Senegal here.

Therefore, may I use this medium to request your
urgent attention and kind assistance to know if you
are disposed enough to help me keep and secure the
investment through this funds in your name since
nothing should be kept with our family name for now
until our present political situation is over.

I have also met the security company here with the
depositional document that my father had left behind
and which bears my name as the “next of Kin” to assume
my claim since my father is no more. The company
confirmed my claim and awarded me the ownership
immediately awaiting my withdrawal of the consignment
with them. But main problem now is that I am afraid to
disclose the contents to them because my father in his
letter had warned me against exposing this to anyone.

Therefore if it appeals to you to assist me
accordingly I suggest that you take a quick trip to
Dakar, Senegal where we shall meet face to
face,discuss the arrangements properly and withdraw
out the consignment from the security company where it
was deposited for furtherance to our investment
arrangements. On your arrival in Dakar we shall make
arrangements and open a non-resident bank account with
your name and can then deposit the funds in it after
the consignment is claimed out from the security
company. In this regards we will be able to start
transfer of the funds little by little to your
nominated bank accounts overseas.

After the transfer is concluded you shall be entitled
to 15% of the total sum while 5% will be mapped out
for miscallenous expenses incured during the
transaction. Remaining can be invested for me
according to your advice and arrangements in your
country.

Finally, You should reply me for confirmation of your
interests through my email address thus
princeseko2002@yahoo.co.uk)You may include your more
personal contacts for safer
communications. God blessings in advance…

Best regards,

Prince Diop seko


N.B
I can also fax to you the documents of the deposite if
requested.

5

Judging from the fact that there are still people who go after this stuff, I guess P.T. Barnum’s observation is still alive and well!
(LOL)
Cheers,
Bill Whedon

6

I got my first one a week ago, too…It was from Zaire or Zimbabwe, can’t remember which. I felt special. :smiley:

7

and I can guarantee that i won’t be your last one of these, andrea…

8

On 2002-11-06 14:39, rossmpfc13 wrote:
and I can guarantee that > i > won’t be your last one of these, andrea…

Oh, Ross… you won’t?? I’m so disappointed, and I was really getting to like you! :wink:

In laughter,
Andrea ~*~

9

For Jens: Many years ago, while working for the defense industry, my business took me to South Africa. I found it one of the most beautiful places I have discovered on earth, albeit very troubled at that time by the racist government. Nelson Mandela was still in jail, and things were really bad.

I have no idea whether a ‘Nigerian Scam’ could be successfully perpetrated, there. I do know, that although the people I dealt with were sophisticated and knowlegeable, there was a ‘wildness’ in the social climate that I feel could foster almost anything.

There is a line in the motion picture, ‘Out of Africa’, which states that when you leave Africa, you leave part of you, there. Yup…True… The feeling is rather undefinable, but of all the strange and potentially dangerous places that are in my limited experience, South Africa is the one I would return to, in a heartbeat. It is a very special place.

Hmmm. Waxed rather romantic, did I not… Please forgive my mental meanderings. Guess you had to be there.
Best.
Byll

10

I was just wondering about South Africa. My wife stayed there for about 6 months once, and I never got the impression from her that the country felt in any way like a “lawless” place.

11

But will this guy pay his tithe to Bro. Michael Ndlovu, the first Son of Late Rev. Dr. Samuel Ndlovu, the Founder of the Redeemed Pilgrim Church of God?

12

And here I only get posts about sweaty teens with horses…

13

Hey Arcaic Lemons!!! It’s so good to “see” you! Hope you have been well… :slight_smile:

Andrea ~*~

14

On 2002-11-06 14:39, rossmpfc13 wrote:
and I can guarantee that i won’t be your last one of these, andrea…

I’ve been getting about four of these a week. Blech. Bazooka barf.

–James
http://www.flutesite.com

15

Thanks! I’m doing really good! Wondering where to start catching up first!