UPDATE 06/05/09: I have received responses, and am developing this story further. Keep an eye on the site for further updates!

Just thought I would take the time to share a couple of rather obvious scam emails I received recently.  I find it absolutely incredible that anyone actually falls for this bullshit:

THE DESK OF
MR SULEMAN IBRAHIM
BANK OF AFRICA.(BOA)
OUAGADOUGOU – BURKINA FASO .

DEAR FRIEND,

THIS MESSAGE MIGHT MEET YOU IN UTMOST SURPRISE, HOWEVER, IT’S JUST MY URGENT NEED FOR FOREIGN PARTNER THAT MADE ME TO CONTACT YOU FOR THIS TRANSACTION.

I AM A BANKER BY PROFESSION FROM BURKINA FASO IN WEST AFRICA AND CURRENTLY HOLDING THE POST OF DIRECTOR AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT OF THE BANK.

I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF TRANSFERING THE LEFT OVER FUNDS ($1.5MILLION) OF ONE OF MY BANK CLIENTS (MR ANDREAS SCHRANNER FROM GERMANY ) WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY ON 31 JULY 2000 IN A PLANE CRASH.

YOU CAN CONFIRM THE GENUINESS OF THE DECEASED DEATH BY CLICKING ON THIS WEB SITE http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/859479.stm

HENCE,I AM INVITING YOU FOR A BUSINESS DEAL WHERE THIS MONEY CAN BE SHARED BETWEEN US IN THE RATIO OF 60%/40% IF YOU AGREE TO MY BUSINESS PROPOSAL.

YOU SHOULD CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER. OR YOU CAN REPLY ME THROUGH THIS E MAIL

suleibra1@aim.com

THANKS
YOURS FAITHFULLY
MR SULEMAN IBRAHIM.

My response to the kind gentleman:

HELLO AND GREETINGS FRIEND MR SULEMAN IBRAHIM,

YOUR MESSAGE SURE DID MEET ME IN UTMOST SURPRISE, YOU HAVE NO IDEA!  I WAS JUST CHECK MY EMAILS AS I DO EVERY OF THE DAYS AND BEHOLD-LO!  I SEE YOUR EMAIL SHINING IN THE BOX!  FOR SUPRISE WAS I!!!

BUT I HAVE TO CONFESS TO YOU I’M VERY SORRY BUT FIRST OF ALL I DID NOT BELIEVE YOU!  THEN I SAW HOW GENUINE YOU ARE AND BECAUSE THE LINK YOU GAVE!

YOUR BUSINESS PROPOSAL OF MONEY AND SOUNDS VERY GOOD TO ME.  I WOULD LOVE DISCUSS THIS FURTHER WITH YOU.  WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR ME TO DO IN ORDER TO BE GET THE MONEY?

THANKS
YOURS SURPRISINGLY
MR BUHT-HOL MCGEE

I wonder if I’ll get a reply.  The second email was written less blindingly, they actually used correct case:

Greeting!

I am Mrs. Mariam Jim Phelps, suffering from cancer ailment. I was married to Engineer Alex Jim Phelp an English man who is dead. My husband was into private practice all his life before his death.

Our life together as man and wife lasted for three decades without a child.My husband died after a protracted illness. My husband and I made a vow to uplift the down-trodden and the less-privileged  as we have passion for people who can not help themselves due to physical disability or financial predicament.My husband died leaving the sum of 2.8 Million United States Dollars which he derived from his vast estates and investment in capital market.

Presently, this money is with FEDEX EXPRESS DELIVERY,WEST AFRICA.The Confirmable Bank Draft was deposited with FEDEX EXPRESS DELIVERY WEST AFRICA.

I have decided to donate this fund to you and want you to use this gift which comes from my husbands effort to fund the upkeep of widows,orphans,destitute, physically challenged children, barren women and people who are genuinely handicapped financially.

I got your informations during a discreet search in the internet for someone to help me.I took this decision because I do not have any child that will inherit this money and i have been told by doctors that i have less than two weeks to live.Please assure me that you will act just as I have stated herein.If you can give me this assistance,you can then contact FEDEX EXPRESS DELIVERY, WEST AFRICA as soon as possible to know when they will deliver the package to you because of the expiring date.

For your information,I have paid the delivery Charges, Insurance premium and Clearance Certificate Fee of the Cheque showing that it is not a Drug Money or meant to sponsor Terrorist attack in your Country. The only money you will send to the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE to deliver your Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is ($275.00 US) Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far. Again, don’t be deceived by anybody to pay any other money except $275.00 US Dollars. I would have paid for the security keeping fee but they said no because they don’t know when you will contact them and in case of demurrage.You have to contact FEDEX EXPRESS DELIVERY, WEST AFRICA immediately with the following informations:

Full Names:
Telephone:
Country:
Age:
Sex:
Occupation:
Delivery Address:

DISPATCH OFFICER: Mr. David Oneal
Email Address: fdx.customerservice56@yahoo.com.hk
Telephone: +234-807-7728-353

You are adviced  to contact them as soon as you receive this mail to avoid any further delay and remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee of $275.00 US Dollars for their immediate action.

Yours Faithfully,
Mrs. Mariam Jim Phelp.

My reply went like this:

Greeting to you Mrs. Miriam Jim Phelps!!

I am glad that you very decide to contact me!  I am pleased very much and happy and glad that you sent me this email to my inbox, but I am also sad to know you will die.  I hope that you can last until I get my money thats for sure!

Can you please instruct how I am to be pay your fee so I can get money from you before you die?

Thank you for you

Regards

Best wishes

Mr Buht-hol Mcgee

Boy I sure hope this isn’t some kind of trick!