Alden Bates' Weblog
Feigning normality since 1973
Ivory Coast Scamster
Filed in: Spam.
A scamster writes: (excerpts only)
Dearest One,
Free your mind.
I am Mrs Elizabeth Kone, the wife of Mr.Willams Kone My Husband was a highly reputable business magnet-(a cocoa merchant)who operated in the capital of Ivory coast during his days.
...and in the nightclubs of Argentina as a Flaminco dancer during his nights, not bad for a lump of magnetized metal (I think the word you're searching for is "magnate"...)
It is sad to say that he passed away mysteriously after one of his business trips abroad .Though his sudden death was linked or rather suspected to have been masterminded by his uncle who travelled with him at that time. But God knows the truth!
The butler did it! Come now, there's was an autopsy, surely?
Before his death he called me in the hospital and told me that he has the sum of fifteen million,five hundred thousand United State Dollars in a trunk box(USD $5.5m ,000) Which he deposited in one of the Security company here in Cote D Ivoire Africa.
"USD $5.5m ,000" eh? That doesn't look at all suspicious! Come now, if you're going to send me a form letter, at least get the values in the input fields right.
Now I am just a widow with two children, and really don't know what to do now, I want an account overseas where I can transfer this funds. 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 Husband actually brought sorrow to my life.
... but joy to the lives of my three children. Wait, did I say three? I meant four children!
Now permit me to ask these few questions:-
1. Can you honestly help me as your widow?
2. Can I completely trust you?
3. What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you after the money is been transferd in to your account?
1. You want to be my widow? That's very touching, but I'm not dead.
2. Not if you're making noises about wanting to be my widow!
3. My country has high taxes on large bank deposits. There should be a good $40 left by the time they've had at it. How about half and half? I could probably buy a CD with $20...
Please,Consider this and get back to me as soon as possible.
How about NO! HA!
Posted December 29, 2005 11:00 AM
Comments
HI!!!
I received the same...but the person stated that her mum died when she was a baby,her dad died on 2002,they have left her lots of millions and that she wants to know if i could take her into the country,and help her with her studies....
Why would she ask help from a stranger...
oh well,i deleted the message..
Posted by: dee | August 12, 2006 6:27 PM
This is what I get.
Dearest In Christ,
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,
I am Mrs Liz Kone from kuwait. I am married to Mr Patric Kone who worked with kuwait embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years before he died in the year 2005.We were married for eleven years without a child.
He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.Before his death we were both born again Christian. Since his death I decided not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against.When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of US$ 6.5 million dollars in a bank here in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire.Presently, this money is still in bank.
Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the period of nine months due to cancer problem. The one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a charity organization that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein.
I want an organization that will use this fund for orphanages, school and church ,widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavor that the house of God is maintained. The Bible made us to understand that "Blessed is the hand that giveth".I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I don't want my husband's efforts to be used by unbelievers.
I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly way. This is why I am taking this decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord.Exodus 14 VS 14 says that "the lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace.
I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health hence the presence of my husband's relatives around me always. I don't want them to know about this development.With God all things are possible.
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the bank here in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire.
I will also issue you an authority letter that will prove you the present beneficiary of this fund. I want you and the church to always pray for me because the lord is my shephard. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. Whoever that Wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and Truth.
Please always be prayerful all through your life.
Contact me on the this Eail_ myprivatebox225@yahoo.frany delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another person for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein.
Hoping to receive your reply.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
YOURS IN CHRIST.
Mrs Liz Kone
Posted by: Anna M | November 15, 2006 4:26 AM
I dunno, it all seems above-board to me.
If this guy left the woman five and a half million quid, wouldn't your first thought be 'Hmmm, I'm rich now'? No, these scamsters want you to believe that A) this guy just left a massive fortune in a trunk where any tree sloth could pinch it; B) there's a single black person in Ivory Coast who isn't a foreigner sucking the country dry of its' resources who has more than two dollars to their name; and C) this lady would
choose a complete stranger thousands of miles away to handle her windfall finances.
Has anyone EVER fallen for this scam?!!
Posted by: Bash Hardcastle | December 29, 2005 8:55 PM