CrimLaw

In my Junk Mail Box This Morning: A new version of an old scam:

DEAR FRIEND,
YOU WILL BE SURPRISE TO RECEIVE THIS LETTER BUT WHEN YOU GO THROUGH IT YOU MIGHT NOT BE SURPRISE AGAIN IF THE INFORMATION HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH YOU. I AM THE CONFIDENTIAL SECRETARY FOR THE INVESTMENT CONTROLLER OF A SOUTH AFRICAN BASED INVESTMENT CORPORATION.MY BOSS/PARTNER INSTRUCTED ME TO CONTACT YOU IN RESPECT OF A CLAIM/DIVIDEND,WHICH MATURED SINCE 1998.THE INVESTOR AFTER COLLECTING THE SAID RETURN OF INVESTMENT FROM OUR FIRM AND DEPOSITED THE CASH WITH A SECURITY COMPANY DIED AFTER ONE WEEK IN A MOTOR ACCIDENT IN NOVEMBER 1998 AND FROM THE CONTENT OF HIS FILE WITH US,WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO NEXT OF KIN IN HIS DETAILS AS HE PROMISED TO FORWARD THE INFORMATION LATTER TO US.

BUT THIS HE DID NOT PROVIDE UNTIL HIS DEATH. WITH FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO TRACE THE ROOT OF THE INVESTOR,THIS MADE THINGS MUCH COMPLEX AS THE INFORMATION WE GOT CONFIRMED THAT HIS WIFE AND ONLY SON DIED IN RUSSIA IN AN AIRCRASH IN THE YEAR 1998. HOWEVER,MY BOSS HAS TAKING IT UPON
HIMSELF TO TRACE THE NEXT OF KIN IF POSSIBLE TO CLAIM THE US$155,600,000.00 (ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE MILLION SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS ONLY) WHICH IS THE TOTAL SUM PAYABLE TO THE NEXT OF KIN AS ALL THE LOCAL TAXES HAS ALREADY BEEN DEDUCTED AND THE CASH ALREADY WITHDRAWN FROM THE SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK AND BOXED. THE INVESTOR HAS DEPOSITED THIS AMOUNT /CASH WITH A SECURITY COMPANY WITHOUT THE COMPANY KNOWING THE CONTENT OF THE BOX FOR SECURITY REASONS BEFORE HIS DEATH. THE CONTENT WAS DECLEARED TO BE COMPANY TREASURE DOCUMENTS,FILES(PAPER) AND THE CORPORATION HAS PAID THE SECURITY COMPANY US$20,000,000.00 ON BEHALF OF THE BENEFICIARY AS THE INITIAL DEPOSIT FOR THE SAFE KEEPING OF THE BOX AS THEY HAVE CHARGED US$100.00 PER DAY FOR THE SAFE KEEPING. I AM CONTACTING YOU BECAUSE YOUR LAST NAME AND THAT OF THE INVESTOR IS THE SAME,WHICH MY BOSS SUSPECTED THAT YOU MIGHT BE THE INVESTOR'S RELATION. PLEASE RECORN FIRM TO US IMMEDIATELY IF YOU HAVE ANY BROTHER WHO WAS 68 YEARS OLD BEFORE HE DIED IN 1998.IF IT IS TRUE,WE WILL ARRANGE FOR YOU TO MAKE THIS CLAIM AS SOON AS POSSILBE.BUT IF NOT WE HAVE NO OTHER OPTION THAN TO PROCESS IT WITH YOUR NAME AND COLLECT THE MONEY TO AVOID THE CASH BEING RETURNED TO THE SOUTH AFRICA GOVERNMENT AS UNTRACABLE/UNCLAIMED DIVIDEND.

AS WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT AND SEE SUCH AMOUNT OF MONEY WASTE INTO THE GOVERNMENT POCKET. FOR YOUR INFORMATION,IF YOU ARE WILLING TO ASSIST IN CLAMING THIS FUNDS, PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITHIN THREE MONTHS FROM TODAY.BEFORE THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT TEAMS TO KNOW ABOUT IT. PLEASE DISREGARD MY PROPOSAL TO USE YOUR NAME TO CLAIM IT IF THE INVESTOR IS REALLY YOUR BROTHER.BUT IF NOT WE WILL SHARE THE MONEY ON 50% EACH AFTER THE CASH HAS BEEN PAID TO YOU. NOTE THAT THIS BUSINESS IS 100% LEGAL AND RISK FREE. PLEASE TREAT THIS AS MOST URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL.

BEST REGARDS,
SAMUEL COKER

Hmmm . . you mean I might be able to get rich because someone with my name died and I could possibly help steal the funds? I'm all over it!