Did you receive an email from a "Arif Shaikh" who is "Chief Credit & Risk Officer with a reputable bank here in U. A. E". It's the usual dead,
wealthy person with no will and no heirs and you-have-the-same-last-name - scam!
"Arif Shaikh" will just change the name of the dead man to match your surname. the
claim that "unclaimed funds are... credited to the Government for purchase of
military equipments" is, of course, completely false; just a nice scammer touch
to make the fraud work. It is a rather preposterous statement in any case.
Even if this were all true, you would be committing several
felonies and would end up in prison. In reality, it is all a scam.
Arif Shaikh (not his real name, obviously) hopes to con you into sending money for various "fees" to free the fortune.
If you would like a step by step
explanation of how this type of "Advance Fee Fraud" works, click here!
From: Mr. Arif Shaikh < arif_shaikh@mail2world.com >
Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2007 6:13:18 AM
Subject: WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE
Greetings from Dubai,
This letter must come to you as a big surprise, but I believe it is only
a day that people meet and become great friends and business partners. I am
Mr. Arif Shaikh, currently Chief Credit & Risk Officer with a reputable bank
here in U. A. E. I write you this proposal in good faith,believing that I
can trust you with the information I am about to reveal to you.
I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On November 6, 2000, an Iraqi Foreign Oil consultant /contractor
with the CHEVRON PETROLEUM CORPORATION, MR MOHAMMAD AL NASSER made a (Fixed
deposit) for 36 calendar months,valued at US$17,500,000.00 (Seventeen
Million Five hundred Thousand Dollars only) in my bank and I happen to be
his account officer before I was moved to my present position recently. Upon
maturity in 2003, as his account officer and as well the bank manger, it is
my duty to notify him on the maturity date so I sent a routine notification
to his forwarding address but the letter was returned undelivered.
After sometime, I tried sending back the letter, but it was again
returned and finally I discovered from his contract employers, Chevron
Petroleum Corporation that Mr. Mohammad Al Nasser died as a result of
torture in the hand of Saddam Hussein (former Iraqi President) during one of
his trips to his country Iraq, as he was accused of leaking information to
the Americans. On further investigation, I discovered that Mr. Al Nasser's
family wife and two sons died during the Gulf War in Iraq and was the reason
why he did not declare any next of kin or relation in all his official
documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank and did not leave
any WILL. This sum of US$17,500,000.00 have been floating and placed under
dormant/unserviceable account by my bank management since no one have heard
from the owner since 2003. I wish to let you know that all the investigation
I have made so far, my bank management is not aware of it, I am the only one
that have the information.
With the recent change of government in my country and with their efforts
to support the United Nations in checkmating terrorism aid in the U. A. E.
By end of this year, the government will pass a new financial control law
which will give the government authority to interrogate account owners of
above $5,000,000.00 to explain the source of the funds, making sure it is
not for terrorism support. If I do not move this money out of the country
immediately, by end of the year the government will definitely confiscate
the money, because my bank cannot provide the account owner to explain the
source of the money.
I cannot directly transfer out this money without the help
of a foreigner and that is why I am contacting you for an assistance. As
the Account Officer to late Al Nasser,coupled with my present position and
status in the bank as Chief Credit & Risk Officer , I have the power to
influence the release of the funds to any foreigner that comes up as the
next of kin to the account, with the correct information concerning the
account, which I shall give you. All documents to enable you claim this fund
will be carefully worked out and there is practically no risk involved, the
transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will
protect you from any breach of law, beside U. A. E is porous and anything
goes.
If you accept to work with me, I want you to state how you
wish us to share the funds in percentage, so that both
parties will be satisfied. If you are interested, contact
me as soon as you receive this message so we can go over
the details. Thanking you in advance and may God bless you. Please, treat
with utmost confidentiality. I shall send you copy of the
deposit certificate issued to Al Nasser when the deposit
was made for your perusal.
I wait your urgent response.
Regards,
Mr. Arif Shaikh
