The West African con — about sharing a blocked bank account — is an old one, but the one below has an immigration angle.
The young lady with the millions in the blocked account will pay the guy who rescues her money 40 percent of $27.5 million, and then move in with him, thus providing the recipient with more than just riches.
She says that the money is blocked because "being a refugee, my status according to local law does not authorize me to carry out the operation" of withdrawing the money. Apparently a truly nasty, anti-refugee Burkina Faso law.
The text, which is in pretty good English follows:
My Dear,
I know this mail will come to you as a surprise since we haven't known or come across each other before considering the fact that I sourced your email contact through the Internet in search of trusted person who can assist me.
I am Miss Rabi Ibrahim, 24 years old female from the Republic of Ivory Coast, West Africa, am the Daughter of Late Chief Sgt. Ibrahim Coulibaly (a.k.a General IB). My late father was a well known Ivory Coast militia leader. He died on Thursday 28 April 2011 following a fight with the Republican Forces of Ivory Coast (FRCI). I am constrained to contact you because of the maltreatment which I am receiving from my stepmother.
She planned to take away all my late father's treasury and properties from me since the unexpected death of my beloved Father. Meanwhile I wanted to travel to Europe, but she hide away my international passport and other valuable documents. Luckily she did not discover where I kept my father's File which contained important documents. Now I am presently staying in the Mission in Burkina Faso.
I am seeking for long term relationship and investment assistance. My father of blessed memory deposited the sum of US$27.5 Million in one bank in Burkina Faso with my name as the next of kin. I had contacted the Bank to clear the deposit but the Branch Manager told me that being a refugee, my status according to the local law does not authorize me to carry out the operation. However, he advised me to provide a trustee who will stand on my behalf. I had wanted to inform my stepmother about this deposit but I am afraid that she will not offer me anything after the release of the money. [Emphasis added.]
Therefore, I decide to seek for your help in transferring the money into your bank account while I will relocate to your country and settle down with you. As you indicated your interest to help me I will give you the account number and the contact of the bank where my late beloved father deposited the money with my name as the next of kin. It is my intention to compensate you with 40% of the total money for your assistance and the balance shall be my investment in any profitable venture which you will recommend to me as have no any idea about foreign investment. Please all communications should be through this email address for confidential purposes.
Thanking you a lot in anticipation of your quick response. I will give you details in my next mail after receiving your acceptance mail to help me.
Yours sincerely
Miss Rabi Ibrahim
The reader might wonder how a sergeant in a militia was able to obtain such a massive sum of money, or ponder whether or not a lawsuit might have secured the funds.
If someone in law enforcement wants the email address used in this case please tell cis.org, and I will provide it.
Needless to say, the recipient of the letter did not respond.