Yet Again Another African Email Scam

It's been a while since I've posted anything here and decided to do so with one of my favorite kinds of scam emails. I find it amazing that people actually fall for some of these. The thought of having millions deposited to your account at a time of desperation must be hard to dispel. Though for this one I have to admit that the person writing it is actually doing some research though their lack of grammar is a dead give away. The insertion of the link to the CNN article from 2008 about plane crash that took the lives of four people including a member of the Cabinet of the President of Kenya and his assistant is a nice touch in an attempt to lend some credibility to the scam. Here is the text of the email I received:

Dear,

My name is Cynthia Kipkalya Kones,
I am writing this mail to you with tears and sorrow from my heart. With due respect,trust and umanity, i appeal to you to exercise a little patience and read through my letter, I wish to contact you personally for a long term business relationship and investment assistance in your Country so i feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business having gone through your remarkable profile, honestly i am writing this email to you with pains, tears and sorrow from my heart, i will really like to have a good relationship with you and i have a special reason why i decided to contact you, i decided to contact you due to the urgency of my situation, My name is Miss.Cynthia Kipkalya Kones, 21yrs old female and I held from Kenya in East Africa. My father was the former Kenyan road Minister. He and Assistant Minister of Home Affairs Lorna Laboso had been on board the Cessna 210, which was headed to Kericho and crashed in a remote area called Kajong'a, in western Kenya. The plane crashed on the Tuesday 10th June 2008.

You can read more about the crash through the below site: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/06/10/kenya.crash/index.html

After the burial of my father, my stepmother and uncle conspired and sold my father's property to an Italian Expert rate which they shared the money among themselves and live nothing for me. I am constrained to contact you because of the abuse I am receiving from my wicked stepmother and uncle. They planned to take away all my late father's treasury and properties from me since the unexpected death of my beloved Father. Meanwhile i wanted to escape to the USA but they hide away my international passport and other valuable travelling documents. Luckily they did not discover where i kept my fathers File which contains important documents. So I decided to run to the refugee camp where i am presently seeking asylum under the United Nations High Commission for the Refugee here in Ouagadougou, Republic of Burkina Faso.

One faithful morning, I opened my father's briefcase and found out the documents which he has deposited huge amount of money in bank in Burkina Faso with my name as the next of kin. I travelled to Burkina Faso to withdraw the money for a better life so that I can take care of myself and start a new life, on my arrival, the Bank Director whom I met in person told me that my father's instruction/will to the bank is that the money would only be release to me when I am married or present a trustee who will help me and invest the money overseas. I am in search of an honest and reliable person who will help me and stand as my trustee so that I will present him to the Bank for transfer of the money to his bank account overseas. I have chosen to contact you after my prayers and I believe that you will not betray my trust. But rather take me as your own sister.

Although, you may wonder why I am so soon revealing myself to you without knowing you, well I will say that my mind convince me that you may be the true person to help me. More so, my father of blessed memory deposited the sum of ($8,500.000.00 USD) Dollars in Bank with my name as the next of kin. However, I shall forward you with the necessary documents on confirmation of your acceptance to assist me for the transfer and statement of the fund in your country. As you will help me in an investment, and i will like to complete my studies, as i was in my 1year in the university when my beloved father died. It is my intention to compensate you with 30% of the total money for your services and the balance shall be my capital in your establishment. As soon as I receive your positive response showing your interest I will put things into action immediately. In the light of the above. I shall appreciate an urgent message on (cKipkalya@yahoo.fr) indicating your ability and willingness to handle this transaction sincerely.

AWAITING YOUR URGENT AND POSITIVE RESPONSE, Please do keep this only to your self for now un till the bank will transfer the fund. I beg you not to disclose it till i come over because I am afraid of my wicked stepmother who has threatened to kill me and have the money alone. I thank God Today that am out from my country (KENYA) but now In (Burkina Faso) where my father deposited the money with my name as the next of Kin. I have the documents for the claim. Please contact me here (cKipkalya@yahoo.fr)

Yours Sincerely,
Miss.Cynthia Kipkalya Kones
cKipkalya@yahoo.fr

Alas my dear Cynthia, I cannot help you. I'm sure you'll find another patsy, umm, knight in shining armor that will ride on in on his trusty steed to help save the day for you. Au revoir.

On a side note, here is another little nugget I just received:

Hi Friend I am a banker in UBA BANK .I want to transfer an abandoned sum of 10.5 USD to your account.50% will be for you. No risk involved. Contact me for more details. Kindly reply me back to my alternative email address ( kasimmohamed712@yahoo.com )    Dr Kasim Mohamed.

Really now. To quote Ed Lover: Come on Son.

FH