Too good to be true?

I opened up this e-mail today. I got a good laugh and thought I should share it with who ever would like to take the time to read it. If you aren't laughing along then you may be a prime candidate for this numskull. If you are even remotely interested then you are not paying attention. Remember that you should check out any and all things that seem suspicious before taking any action. You can always check out www.snopes.com. They and others have all heard of this African scam. Do a little research, you might find it interesting.

ONLY AN EXAMPLE

FROM: PATRICK MPHO
E-MAIL: patrickmpho2009@live.co.za, patrickmpho009@gmail.com
20 BOTHA CRESCENT,
SANDTON, JOHANNESBURG,
SOUTH AFRIACA
MD/CEO,

APPEAL FOR ASSISSTANCE

I know that this message will come to you as a surprise since we don't know each other before, but for purpose of introduction, I am PATRICK MPHO the Bank Manager of AMALGAMATED BANK OF SOUTH AF RICA (ABSA).

First and foremost, I apologize using this medium to reach you for a transaction / business of this magnitude, but this is due to Confidentiality and prompt access reposed on this medium. Be informed that a member of the South Africa Export Promotion Council (SEPC) who was at the Government delegation to your country during a trade exhibition gave your enviable credentials / particulars to me. I plea to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the execution of the deal described hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope you will keep it as a top secret because of the nature of this transaction.

There is an account opened in this bank in 1990 and since 1998 nobody has operated on this account again. After going through some old files in the records, I discovered that if I do not remit this money out urgently it would be forfeited for nothing. The owner of this account is MR. SAMUEL CARTER, a foreigner, and a miner at Kruger gold co., a geologist by profession and he died since 1998.

No other person knows about this account or any thing concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as well that his company does not know anything about this account and the amount involved is (USD$35,000,000M) thirty five million United States Dollars.

I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this money cannot be approved to a local bank here, but can only be approved to any foreign account because the money is in US dollars and the former owner of the account is MR. SAMUEL CARTER a foreigner too.
I know that this message will come to you as a surprise as we don't know ourselves before. We will sign an agreement, but be sure that it is real and a genuine business.

Please reply urgently so that I will inform you the next step to take immediately. Send also your private telephone and fax number including the full details of the account to
be used for the deposit.

I want us to meet face to face or sign a binding agreement to bind us together so that you can receive this money into a foreign account or any account of your choice where the fund will be safe. And I will fly to your country for withdrawal and sharing and other investments. I am contacting you because of the need to involve a foreigner with foreign account and foreign beneficiary.

I need your full co-operation to make this work fine because the management is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner, who has correct information of this account, which I will give to you later immediately, if you are capable and willing to handle such amount in strict confidence and trust according to my instructions and advice for our mutual benefit because this opportunity will never come again in my life.

I need truthful person in this business because I don't want to make mistake I need your strong assurance and trust. With my position now in the office I can transfer this money to any foreigner's reliable account, which you can provide with assurance that this money will be intact pending my physical arrival in your country for sharing. I will destroy all documents of transaction immediately we receive this money leaving no trace to any place.

You can also come to discuss with me face to face after which I will make this remittance in your presence and two of us will fly to your country at least two days ahead of the money going into the account. I will apply for annual leave to get visa immediately I hear from you that you are ready to act and receive this fund in your account.

I will use my position and influence to effect legal approvals and onward transfer of this money to your account with appropriate clearance forms of the ministries and foreign exchange departments. At the conclusion of this business, you will be given 30% of the tot al amount, 70% will be for me.

I look forward to your earliest reply

yours truly,
PATRICK MPHO
+27840466670

END OF EXAMPLE

Well that is it. That is just how it came to me and I am sure many, many others. Not a word was changed, corrected, or adjusted. The names have also not been changed to protect the innocent on account of there not being any innocent listed. If there truly is a Patrick MPHO, I hope his ambitions are properly rewarded by the proper authorities.

Of course I could try and make this stuff up but apparently there is too much competition.

This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.