"We are sending the card in trust to you because you are a corporate body that cannot defraud us. So you are to charge a total of 1,680Euros +4,000=4,680Euros.So you are to keep 1,680Euros as deposit for your services and wire 4,000Euros, through western union, to our transport consultant. The balance of your bill will be paid cash on arrival.

ASHLEY ROLLAND,
PROGRAMME DIRECTOR"

Ashley Rolland's arithmetic leaves something to be desired but his crooked intent is clear.

Or was that Rolland Ashley? We'll never know - it varied from one email to the next.

This sample is specific to the rare books and rare maps trade. The English is somewhat better than usual but not good enough for someone named "David Stone" or "David Strong", and the email is still addressed ingratiatingly and non-specifically to "Dear Friend":

Dear Friend,

Thanks for your email, I'm o.k with the price. I want you to get the item shipped to me in Canada, my friend is owing some little funds in US, He'll send you the US cheque/Money Order however, this cheque will be in excess, so when it clears your bank, ship me the item and transfer the difference to me, you should deduct the transfer charges from the balance. If you're o.k with these arrangement get back to me with your payable name, physical address (No P.O Box), and phone #, so that he can send you the cheque asap via special trackable mail.

I am giving you these arrangement because I can't send you Canada cheque anymore, I went to my bank this morning, they said it may not clear in US Bank, and if it will clear, it depends on financial institutes and it may take up to a month for it to clear, they said the best thing I can do to send you canada cheque is to open a domiciliary account in US Dollars, I can't open such account just because I want to order a book, therefore, I want you to understand my arrangement and get back to me today.

I am looking forward to read your email.

Thank You,
David Stone.

Here's one from Ivory Coast (international dialing code 225). Notice that he retains the é in Tél even in the English version, indicating that he's more conversant with French, an official language in Ivory Coast. He's left "Je" in there too. He means "strike" by the capitalised word "BURDEN" - that's a bad translation of "en grève" - on strike. "I name myself" = "je m'appelle" etc.

It's very odd that these crooks use such rare, not to say ridiculous, names since it makes it easy to search the internet for denunciations similar to the one you're reading now.

Hello
I name myself KONAN FRANCK and at the time of my weddings with my wife I would like to make a reservation of room within your establishment . My stay will be carried out over one 10 days limiting duration as from 18/11/06 at 28/11/06. I would like to know in order to confirm my reservation if you have a terminal of remote taking away because I would like to balance by bank card. I wish to make a pre total payment after reception of the tariff. Also I have service important to ask you Je would like to pay the plane tickets but it is that the terminal of taking away for the credit cards of the travel agency is currently breakdown and we are in BURDEN thus I cannot go to the bank to take money for the expenses of the plane tickets. I would like to then solicit you so that you to help me for this service which will consist in outputting on the credit card that I will send to you, in more of the amount of the reservation, the sum of 4000 euros which will use to me for the purchase of the plane tickets. Then made me a mandate of this amount via WESTERN UNION. I wish of any heart that you render this service to me so that I arrive at your establishment because we are already ready. I would also like as a thanks for the service which you will render to me, that you also output for you the sum of 1000 euros like commission. I am thus in waiting of the total invoice so that I send my credit card for the complete balance to you.
Mr KONAN FRANCK
Tél.:+225 08195757
THANK YOU

Buongiorno
Nomino KONAN FRANCK ed in occasione delle mie cerimonie nuziali con mia moglie vorrei fare una prenotazione di camera nel vostro stabilimento . il mio soggiorno si effettuerà su una durata limite di 10 giorni a partire dal 18/11/06 al 28/11/06. Vorrei sapere per confermare la mia prenotazione se disporte di un terminale di prelievo a distanza poichè vorrei saldare per carta bancaria. Desidero fare un pre pagamento totale dopo ricezione della tariffa. Quindi ho servizio che importa a chiedervi. io voglia pagare i biglietti d'aereo ma il fatto é che il terminale di prelievo per le carte di credito dell'agenzia di viaggio à guasto attualmente e siamo in SCIOPERO dunque io non possono renderlo alla banca per prendere denaro per le spese dei biglietti d'aereo. Vorrei allora sollecitarli affinchè voi aiutarlo per questo servizio che consisterà nel erogare sulla carta di credito che vi invierà, oltre all'importo della prenotazione, la somma di 4000 euro che mi serviranno all'acquisto dei biglietti d'aereo. In seguito fatte io un mandato di quest'importo via WESTERN UNION. Auspico di qualsiasi cuore che mi rendiate questo servizio affinchè arrivi al vostro stabilimento poichè siamo già pronti. Vorrei anche come ringraziamento per il servizio che mi renderete, che erogavate anche per voi la somma di 1000 euro come commissione. Sono dunque in attesa della fattura totale affinchè vi invii la mia carta di credit per il pagamento completo.
Sig. KONAN FRANCK
Tèl.:+225 08195757

Bonjour,
Je me nomme KONAN FRANCK et á l'occasion de mes noces avec ma femme je voudrais faire une réservation de chambre au sein de votre etablissement .Mon séjour s'effectuera sur une durée limite de 10 jours á partir du 18/11/06 au 28/11/06. J'aimerais savoir afin de confirmer ma réservation si vous disposez d'un terminal de prélèvement á distance car je voudrais solder par carte bancaire. Je désire faire un pré paiement total après réception des tarifs. Aussi j'ai service important á vous demander .Je voudrais payer les billets d'avion mais il se trouve que le terminal de prélèvement pour les cartes de crédit de l'agence de voyage est panne actuellement et nous sommes en GREVE donc je ne peux me rendre á la banque pour prendre de l'argent pour les frais des billets d'avion. Je voudrais alors vous solliciter afin que vous me rendiez ce service qui consistera á débiter sur la carte de crédit que je vous enverrai, en plus du montant de la réservation, la somme de 4000 euros qui vont me servir á l'achat des billets d'avion. Ensuite faites moi un mandat de ce montant via WESTERN UNION. Je souhaite de tout coeur que vous me rendiez ce service afin que j'arrive á votre ETABLISSEMENT car nous sommes déjá prêts. Je voudrais aussi en guise de remerciement pour le service que vous allez me rendre, que vous débitiez aussi pour vous la somme de 1000 euros comme commission. Je suis donc dans l'attente de la facture totale afin que je vous envoie ma carte de credit pour le solde complet.
Mr KONAN FRANCK
Tél.:+225 08195757

Here's another one from the Ivory Coast. The French is reasonable and the request quite modest. Nevertheless, it's an advance fee scam using stolen card details and Western Union. The inducement is a fat commission: 

Bonjour Monsieur, Madame

Je suis Monsieur Marc Pivonet Responsable du Centre de formation ( Football Formation ) en abrége F.F. Nous sommes, basés en Cote D'Ivoire

Après notre championnat je voudrais offrir des vacances de relaxation de rêves à mon Equipe. Et je me tourne vers votre local pour une reservation de 3 chambre simple ( avec deux lits dans chaque chambre ) dans la periode du 29/01/2007 au 08 /02/2007

Je voudrais solder par carte de crédit en mode de pre-paiement (a l'avance de mon arrivée ). Acceptez vous les cartes de credits ( Visa , Master ) Possedez vous un terminal de prelevement a distance pour carte de credit ?

Cependant nous avons des petits soucis financiers. Je voudrais que vous nous aider a régler l'agence de voyage où nous avons pour habitude de reserver nos billets d'avions pour les voyages car celle ci a un problème avec son terminal de carte de credit depuis 3 jours et nous demande de regler a la dernière minutes par argent liquide etant donné que nous avons transférés nos fonds liquides en travel check ( manque de cash ) il nous est impossible de payer la somme de nos billets étant doné que moi même je suis hors du pays et de plus mon etablissement financier n'est pas réprésenté où je suis actuellement. Je voudrais que vous prélevriez sur ma carte de crédit le montant des billet (5000€ ) et vous expedierez cette somme via western union en côte d'ivoire au nom du responsable de l'agence de voyage qui n'attends que cette somme pour nous confirmer notre voyage 

Et donc je vous enverrai ma carte de crédit avec l'autorisation de prélèvement et les copies de ma carte bancaire sur laquelle vous allez charger le montant des billets de 5000€ et votre commission de 1000€ afin de de garantir le paiement 

Veuillez me faire parvenir le devis de ma réservation : chambre + 5000€ billets d'avion + 1000€ commission 

Je suis en attente de votre confirmation 

Marc Pivonet 

Tel : 00225 01 10 32 75