Hoax email!

Last time I posted one of these, several people found my blog by searching for key phrases in the email. I like to think that at least one person saw this and thought, "Oh, it is a scam."

BTW, if you want to see over five hundred such emails, click here.

Here's the lastest fishing email to grace my inbox:

Hello,

I pray that this email reaches you in the best of health. This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we have not yet met. The message could be strange but it's real if you pay some attention to it. I want to notify you about it at least for the sake of your integrity.

In a brief introduction, I am Peter Daniel , the Director of Operation with Cooperative Bank of Benin-Cotonou ,Republic of Benin. I have a very interesting transaction to discuss with you.

The business under discussion has to do with George Stearns a national of your country, who is a Consultant/ contractor with Societe Nationale Des Products D' Agricole (SONAPRA) Company in Benin-Cotonou.

I managed to get your contact details through the Internet search myself because time is of importance to it and I am desperately looking for someone to assist me to pull this money out from the bank before our corrupt government officials will confiscate the money.

On Thursday, December 25, 2003, George Stearns , his wife and their only daughter were involved in Air-Crash near the Atlantic Ocean in Cotonou suburb. For more clarifications, you can visit the CNN web news for the tragedy.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/

Since then I have made several inquiries to your Embassy, in a bid to locate any relation of George Stearns . All attempts to reach the next of kin of George Stearns has been futile as He had no family here in Benin Republic. Hence my decision to contact you. I want you and I to go into partnership, the nature of your business is completely irrelevant to this transaction as all I need from you is an assurance that my interest will be fully protected once this transaction is concluded.

George Stearns , made a numbered time (fixed) deposited for twelve calendar and his account with our Bank accrues to about (Four Million, Three hundred and Fifty- Two Thousand US Dollars) $USD4.352M.

According to the Benin Law, at the expiration of (Three) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Benin government if nobody applies to claim the funds.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to George Stearns so that the fruits of this old man's labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials who will latter use the money to sponsor war in Africa and kill innocent citizens in the search for political power/seat.

Please note that There will be no problem at all, my position as the Director of Operation guarantees the successful execution of this transaction within 7 Banking days and the money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 40% for you and 60% for me.

This is very simple, I will like you to reply immediately so that I can send you the Text of application which you will fill and apply to the bank as the next of kin to George Stearns and I will use my good position in the bank as the Director of Operation to make sure that the application is approved, during board meeting for immediate payment.

If you are interested, reply immediately, so that we can proceed at once.

Please send to me also your private phone, or mobile numbers for easier correspondence or you can give me a call on 00229-97728650. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best Regards
Peter.