We have all received garbage emails from dodgy people in dodgy countries giving us a sob story explaining how they’ve managed to end up with several million dollars and need help getting it out of the country. They started in Nigeria but have now spread to other countries as well. Two recent ones have come to my attention.
First, someone claiming to be a North Korean is seeking help to move some cash which I’m sure the Dear Leader would prefer is used for more constructive purposes:
Greetings
Hello I am delighted to have this opportunity to introduce myself to you. My name is Bang (IN) Hwang; I am from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). I had been working for EMC in Korea and recently in Koryo bank, Pyongyang, North Korea as a branch manager. While I was in Koryo bank, I remitted the sum of $9.5 Million to my secret bank account in Japan. But the funds were supposedly paid by Kim Jong-il to a chinese shipping company for transporting illegal weapons to North Korea. In fact, the bank does weapons transactions and money laundering operations of Kim Jong-il. I escaped through the chinese border when it was discovered that the funds did not get to the shipping company. Now I cannot return to North Korea since I had stepped on the toes of Kim Jong-il. I’m think of moving the funds to a bank account abroad for a profitable investment. Please let me know if you can be of assistance.
Best regards, Hwang Bang
Second, an attempt to ensnare the late Pastor Bae Hyun-Kyu, by leaving a comment1 on one of my posts about the Afghan missionaries. I am always puzzled by how people think that, if they leave a comment below an article about a particular person, that person will read their message. This phenomenon is most commonly found on posts about celebrities, where fans leave messages asking the celeb to contact them.
Dearest In The Lord:
I am [name withheld] from Kuwait. I married to late [name withheld] who worked with Kuwait embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years before he died in the year 2004.We were married for eleven years with out 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 husban was alive he deposited a box containing the sum of three Million five houndred thausand Dollars in one of the security company here in Abidjan..
Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Eight months due to cancer problem. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a church that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. I want a church or Individual that will use this fund for orphanages, widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavor 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 security company. I will also issue you an authorisation 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 continue your prayers upon me. Contact me on this email address any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another church 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,
[Name and email address withheld]
- Which I didn’t approve [↩]