MoMusings

In a posting last week, explaining what 419s are [aka Nigerian scam and Advance Fee Frauds] I intimated that I’d seen a new version using the death of Yasar Arafat as a new theme to try and get suckers, er…..I mean willing, naive victims to help out the unfortunate author of the e-mail. In this case the author is non other than Suha Arafat, or so the 419 claims…..In reality it is just the latest nasty, bad taste, twist of the boys from Lagos’s latest attempt to dupe people.

Here it is in all it’s sick glory:

From: SUHA ARAFAT [mailto:xxxx@netscape.net]
Sent: Sunday, November 14, 2004 8:10 AM
To: xxx@xxxx.xxx
Subject: I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE; SUHA ARAFAT
Importance: High

Dear Friend,

This mail may not be surprising to you if you have
been following current events in the international media with reference to the Middle
East and Palestine in particular.

I am Mrs. SUHA ARAFAT, the wife of YASSER ARAFAT,
the Palestinian leader who died recently in Paris. Since his death and even prior
to the announcement, I have been thrown into a state of antagonism, confusion, humiliation,
frustration and hopelessness by the present leadership of the Palestinian Liberation
Organization and the new Prime Minister. I have even been subjected to physical and
psychological torture. As a widow that is so traumatized, I have lost confidence with
everybody in the country at the moment.

You must have heard over the media reports and the
Internet on the discovery of some fund in my husband secret bank account and companies
and the allegations of some huge sums of money deposited by my husband in my name
of which I have refuses to disclose or give up to the corrupt Palestine Government.
In fact the total sum allegedly discovered by the Government so far is in the tune
of about $6.5 Billion Dollars. And they are not relenting on their effort to make
me poor for life. As you know, the Moslem community has no regards for woman, hence
my desire for a foreign assistance.

I have deposited the sum of 20 million dollars with
a security firm abroad whose name is withheld for now until we open communication.
I shall be grateful if you could receive this fund into your bank account for safe
keeping and any Investment opportunity. This arrangement is known to you and my personal
Attorney. He might be dealing with you directly for security reasons as the case may
be.

In view of the above, if you are willing to assist
for our mutual benefits, we will have to negotiate on your Percentage share of the
$20,000,000 that will be kept in your position for a while and invested in your name
for my trust pending when my Daughter, Zahwa, will come off age and take full responsibility
of her Family Estate/inheritance.

Please note that this is a golden opportunity that
comes once in life time and more so, if you are hornet, I am going to entrust more
funds in your care as this is one of the legacy we keep for our children.

In case you don’t accept please do not let me out
to the security and international media as I am giving you this information in total
trust and confidence I will greatly appreciate if you accept my proposal in good faith.
Please expedite action.

Yours sincerely,

Suha Arafat

Whatever you do don’t fall for this scam [or any of it’s relations], it relies on what the Lagos boys call Wad [rich, greedy people]. They also use a less polite name for the people they dupe; Mgbada.

Oh by the way, just in case you didn’t get it, this like all the other multitudinous versions is nothing more than a scam, there is no money [or other valuables, such as Oil, Gold, Diamonds, etc.]. To the boys from Lagos [the 419ers that run these scams] it is a business, some say it should be considered an African cottage industry, however they want to try and justify it, it is still a crime, no more, no less.