Notification of Bequest...

or "Funds Transfer" or the hearth-wrenching, "PLEASE HELP!!"

Sometimes days, even weeks, go by without a word from these long-lost "friends" from places like Nigeria and the Ivory Coast, who somehow find our email addresses and decide that they can trust us with their fortunes and their lives. And then one day, the inbox has a whole series of urgent, heart-felt letters from them, asking for our help, promising that if we could just give out some simple, albeit VERY personal and confidential information, then great fortunes will be ours in return.

You know what I'm talking about, right? Here's one:

"FROM MISS Fatu Bali ; ABIDJAN COTE D IVOIRE

My Dearest Beloved ,

Thanks for your reply ,based on your profile i am happy to request for your assistance and also to go into business partnership with you, i believe that you will not betrayed my trust which i am going to lay on you.

I am Miss Fatu Bali ,21years old and the only daughter of my late parents MR. and MRS MUSTAPHA Bali My father was a highly reputable business magnet-(a cocoa merchant)who operated in the capital of Ivory coast during his days. It is sad to say that he passed away mysteriously in France during one of his business trips abroad year 12th.Febuary 2004.Though his sudden death was linked or rather suspected to have been masterminded by an uncle of his who travelled with him at that time.

But God knows the truth! My mother died when I was just 4 years old, and since then my father took me so special. Before his death on February 12th 2004 he called the secretary who accompanied him to the hospital and told him that he has the sum of Ten Million United State Dollars.(USD$10 000 000) left in a security company in a metallic trunk box, but the security company didn't know the content because it was registered as family valuables personal for security reasons.

I am just 21 years old and a university undergraduate and really don't know what to do. This is because I have suffered a lot of set backs as a result of incessant political crisis here in Ivory coast. The death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life. Sir, I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards. Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded. Now permit me to ask these few questions:-

1. Can I completely trust you?

2. What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you?

Consider this and get back to me as soon as possible.

Thank you so much.

My sincere regards,

MISS Fatu Bali

Does anyone really fall for this stuff? My God, I hope not. But judging by the sheer volume of ridiculous emails I get every day from well-meaning friends who forward things such silly stuff as "Warning: Antiperspirant causes breast cancer" and "The "CA-125 test for Ovarian Cancer MUST be mandated as part of a well-woman visit, and that to allow it not to be as such is tantamount to governmental mysogeny", truly believing in the veracity of what they are sending around into the ether...well, I fear that there must be some sorry folks who do give out their social and bank acount info to strangers on the web bearing false promises....indeed.

YC