Most Creative E-mail Scam!

Don’t fall for this e-mail scam!

There are several attributes of this e-mail message that quickly tipped me off to its bogus nature, even aside from the fact that I know I am NOT a beneficiary of $800,000.00 from anything. First off there was the salutation, which does not use my name, but instead uses a generic reference to a “Beneficiary”. Also the punctuation and invalid spacing of the salutation shows unprofessional presentation. In the very first rather long sentence we find a turn of phrase that quickly betrays the writer as not being originally an English speaker. When referring to the funds, the writer says, “…that has been with us since two weeks…” No one who natively speaks English would express this idea in this way. It is clearly a case of a poorly translated turn of phrase. Not to mention the error in the punctuation of the $800,000.00, in which they used a period instead of a comma.

I found the whole “dead or alive” shtick the most creative part and quite amusing, especially since when I first read this e-mail in my spam filter it had already been there more than fifteen days. So, that 48 hour limit they imposed upon me to prove that I am still alive was so long passed. I guess that means I’m dead. He he.  

Another sentence that I find especially indicative that the writer of this e-mail is not a native English speaker is, “Please you are advice to stop all further Contact from any body you have been dealing with regarding any Transaction.” That one is really pitiful.

Now, here is a copy of the e-mail message in its entirety. Enjoy…

“Dear:Beneficiary,

We received an email that you are dead and you asked one Mr. Peterson Rick to come and claim your funds related to your compensation funds $800.000.00 United State Dollars that has been with us since two weeks now and he has also agreed to pay for the fund release charges of US$100.

So I am writing you to know if you are DEAD OR ALIVE!, if you do not reply back before 48hrs we will have no other alternative than to believe that you are truly dead according to Mr. Peterson Rick. And if you are still alive you can get back to me as fast as you can or you can call me on my phone take note that every thing has been paid for it is just for the fund release fee that this Mr. Peterson Rick has agreed to pay for, if you refuse to get back to us am afraid we shall give the fund transfer to him and collect the money from him that means that he is right that you are dead and you asked him to come and claim the funds on your behalf.

WE HAVE WITH US A SCAN COPY of the SECRET PHOTO SHOT WE SNAPPED HIM and his FRIEND THE DAY HE CAME TO OUR OFFICE TO TABLE TO OUR OFFICE THAT YOU ARE DEAD,IF YOU NEED IT, WE CAN SCAN IT FOR YOUR VERIFICATION PURPOSES.

Please you should know that you are to kindly notify me if you are still alive and ready to claim your winning funds and also Let us know if you are willing to pay the needed Charges US$100. Send down an attached to this Message with your I.D card Copy in order for us to know that you are alive and kicking.

You can send kindly scan and email it to me together with your details.

Mr William Freeman.

Email: info_william2009@sify.com

Tel: TEL:+234 705 500 0827.

Please you are advice to stop all further Contact from any body you have been dealing with regarding any Transaction. Please take note that you have been given just 48hrs to get back to us so that we can know if you are alive, and fill the Information Below.

Name:

Phone Number:

Fax:

House Address:

Age:

We await your swift response in regard to this news we received from Mr. Peterson Rick.

Truly Yours.

Mr.William freeman.

Tel: 234 805 500 0827

Fund Release Department”

Needless to say, I’ve absolutely no intention of giving these obvious identity thieves any of my identity information. I also advise anyone else that might get this or a comparable type of e-mail, please do not fall for it.

This is unquestionable a scam!