Email scams

I received a similar e-mail and have attached a copy for your reference. I don't understand how anyone could fall for this crap.
OUR REF:…………………………….. YOUR REF………………………
Email: richard_masinga@hotmail.com
Tel: +27-73-286-6635
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
ATTN: DIRECTOR/CEO

I am RICHARD MASINGA (FCAA), the chief accountant of African Development Bank (ADB). There is an account open in this bank in 1999 and since 2001 nobody has operated on this account again. After going through some old files in the records, I discovered that if I do not remit this money out urgently it would be forfeited for nothing. The owner of this account is Mr. Morris Thompson, a foreigner, Business Man and a miner at Kruger Gold Company, a Geologist by profession and he died since 2000.No other person knows this account or anything concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as well that this company does not know anything about this account and the money involved is One hundred and Thirty Six Million United States Dollars (US$ 136 Million). I want us to first transfer US$ 36 Million from this money into your safe overseas account before the rest. I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this money cannot be approved to a local bank here, but can only be approved to any foreign account because the money is in United States Dollars and the former owner Mr. Morris Thompson is a foreigner too. I know that this message will come to you as surprise as we don’t know ourselves before. We will sign an agreement, but be sure that it is real and a genuine business. You can view the web site bellow for more information on our late client.

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/

I only got your contact information from my secretary who operates computer; with believe in God that you will never let me down in this business, considering my position as a public servant. You are the only person that I have contacted in this business; so please reply urgently so that I will inform you the next step to take immediately. Send also your private telephone and fax numbers including the full details of your account to be used for the deposit. I want us to meet face-to-face and sign a binding agreement to bind us together so that you can receive this money into your account where the fund will be safe. And I will fly to your country for withdrawal and sharing and other investment.

Meanwhile, I am contacting you because of the need to involve a foreigner with foreign account and foreign beneficiary. I need your full co-operation to make this work fine because the management is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner who has correct information of this account, which I will give to you as soon as you indicate your sincerity to co-operate with me, and capability to handle such amount in strict confidence and trust according to my instruction and advice for our mutual benefit because this opportunity may never come again in my life. I need a truthful and God fearing person in this business because I don’t want to make a mistake so I need your strong assurance and trust. With my position in the office I don’t want anything that will jeopardize my job so I advice that we should make secrecy and confidentiality our primary working condition, bearing in mind that I am a public servant. I will also use my position and influence to effect legal approvals and onward transfer of this money to your account with appropriate clearance forms of the ministries and foreign exchange department.

At the conclusion of this business, you will be giving 25% of the total amount, 70% will be for me, while 5% will be for expenses both parties might have incurred the process of the transfer. I look forward to your earliest reply.

Yours sincerely,
RICHARD MASINGA CONFIDENTIAL

Here's another version of basically the same story. If it's too good to be true, it probably is.

Thanks for your response to my mail; this is to
>acknowledge the receipt of your email and also to
>explain in details, this business opportunity. The name of
>my deceased client was Mr Robert Dubeck
> I got your contact in my search for a reliable person to
>do this with me when I was looking for a relative of
>my late client.
>
>
> I had nearly given up until I came across your
>contact. I meditated over it and my mind convinced me
>to give you a try as you would be trusted.
>
>Since you share the same name with him hence I
>contacted you to help in repatriating the funds left
>behind to any account of your choice. The whole
>transaction would be handled under a legitimate and
>transparent arrangement. I work for African Development Bank Plc.
>
> The amount of funds left behind was four million
>United States dollars only and I would want us to
>share it 50/50 after we have successfully transferred
>it into your nominated bank account. Since the
>accident that claimed all the members of his family
>nobody has come to claim the funds for the past four
>years.
>
>Normally After five fiscal years and nobody comes up
>to claim the funds it would be marked dormant and
>reverted back to the bank's general coffers and shared
>among the directors. This I do not want to happen.
>After we might have talked I would send you a text of
>application instructing you on how to apply to the
>bank for the funds release.
>
> I will like you to provide me with the following:
>
>a, your complete names
>b, your mailing address
>c, your telephone number
>
>Do tell me a little more about yourself and work.
>
>Hope to hear form you soonest.
>
Best Regards,
>
>Dennis Smith
>