Today is my first day among the unemployed. I'll admit, I've been a little nervous about what I'll do next, but then I found a God-sent email in my inbox when I got up this morning.
It seems there's a company with something like $65,000,000 tied up in Nigeria in a failed business deal after the principal of the company and his entire family died in a tragic car accident. I'm not clear on all the particulars or why they chose me, but I was contacted by the brother of the neighbor of the nephew of the company's window-washer's 3rd cousin to help them get the money out of Nigeria. And they made an offer I can't refuse! If I help get the money out by acting as an agent for the company and letting them move the money through my bank account, they'll give me 25% of it for helping and another 5% for expenses!
That's $19,500,000! Just for being a nice guy!
Boy, this email couldn't have come at a better time. Whew.
Posted by Chuck at October 1, 2004 09:54 AMPeople of Nigeria: he cannot be trusted with that kind of money. He will buy SCUBA gear. Lots of it.
Posted by: beth at October 1, 2004 09:59 AMThere must be tons of tragic accidents being dealt to rich people in third world countries these days. I keep getting similar emails. I sent them my bank account number and PIN, but they haven't sent the wire they promised yet.
Posted by: stag at October 1, 2004 10:25 AMStag,
You might want to e-mail them your social security number and driver license info. That might help to expedite the deposit into your account.
Just trying to help here.
b
Posted by: beth at October 1, 2004 11:52 AMWill do. Will also provide my address and a passport photo in case they can just deliver the cash to my home. That way the Feds can't track it.
Posted by: stag at October 1, 2004 03:17 PMChuck, I think it would be great if Beth wrote about your windfall over on her blog.
Posted by: Mr. Amaya at October 1, 2004 06:53 PMSteve, I just think it's great that you wrote in mine.
Posted by: Chuck at October 2, 2004 08:51 AMI did a little research on this piece a few months back. Turns out these gangstahs are scarier that their somewhat humorous broken-English e-mail. I understand you know what's going on, but the length to which people go to explain this urban legend is amazing. I'd link to the article, but you don't allow hyperlinks in your comments...
Posted by: Todd at October 2, 2004 11:36 AMThere's a hilarious site run by people who feign negotiating a money transfer with these crooks. In a few cases, the scammers have lost money. Like this one: http://www.419eater.com/html/joe_eboh.htm
Posted by: Lesley at October 3, 2004 01:07 PMWIRED magazine did a spoof as well, and totally jack-hammered the stupidity of these thugs.
Posted by: Jim at October 4, 2004 09:29 AM