Heck the Nigerians cannot hog the “I need your help transferring $25 million” email spams. Now the Brits are in it, and stomping in on Peanuts named characters:
I am Mr. Charles Brown, A Canadian Attorney based in Manchester, United Kingdom and the personal attorney to Late Mr. Mark Michelle a citizen of France. Late Mr. Mark Michelle was a private oil consultant/ contractor with the Shell Petroleum Development Company in Saudi Arabia before his death, hereinafter shall be referred to as my client.
Unfortunate, my client with his wife and three children lost their life in plane clash in 2003. My several attempts to locate any of his relatives as directed by his Bank became void. I had make enquires with his country Embassy and none of his relatives have been traced. It may interest you to know that my client died “in testate”.
PROPOSITION:
I decided to contact you purely on the personal conviction of trust and confidence that we can co-operate with each other and do a very lucrative business for our mutual benefits. I want you to give me the needed assistance by allowing me to present you as the next of kin to the deceased and the beneficiary to his estate. The deceased had a deposit valued presently at (GBP45, 8000, 000.00) and his Bank has issued me a notice to provide his next of kin or beneficiary by will, otherwise the account would be confiscated.Already, I have marked out modalities for achieving my aim of appointing a next of kin as well as transfer the money out of this country, for us to share the money in the ratio of 53% for me and 35% to you, The 2% of the fund will serve as reimbursement of expenses both local and international any of us will make in the course of this transaction. While we shall collectively donate the remaining balances of 10% to Tsunami Relief Organizations.
It is my intention to achieve this transfer in a legitimate way, all I required is your honest co-operation, and confidentiality and trust to enable us see this transaction through. This is a very legal business that I am very sure of its success and is absolutely risk free.
Yes that will really work. Just a tap of your wand, Chuck, and I am a relative of the dead rich guy,
Thanks for leaving Canadians out of this. Just shows you have that innate reserve and tact which prompted us to bestow honorary citizenship on you (remember to invoke it next time you cross the border).
I love how these guys always stress trust and honesty… it’s an interesting psychological principle. And the fact he keeps most of the money, and peels off a bit for charity are innovations in themselves.
I’d be interested in putting together a resource along the lines of “good techniques from bad people”… I once built a presentation around an old CIA torture manual (hmm, I must still have it, but that was two or three moves ago) that was loaded with useful insights relevant to teaching. And surely there have been new manuals published the past few years with more up-to-date tips!