This is the full text, verbatim, of the fraudulent e-mail.
It is unusual because it is so long: most are much shorter, even when the basic story is the same.
Because of the length, we have interspersed our comments within the body of the mail. Our comments are in curly brackets { } so that they are easily identifiable.
So that you can see the whole email unbroken, it is repeated further down the page without comments.
Subject : I am Mrs. Anna Cooper, from Australia
Reply to: annacoopeer23@gmail.com {If you receive an e-mail from an account with gmail or any of many free and anonymous e-mail providers, from someone you don't know, it's very likely that it's a fraud of some sort. The best tactic is to delete it without opening it in case it is carrying any malware that might install a virus or other harmful program on your computer. }
Hello Dear, { This use of "Dear" without a name is poor form in most styles of English. It is, however, common in parts of the Middle East and Africa. Do you know anyone in those places who might be writing to you? If not, why would you be getting this letter? }
I am Mrs. Anna Cooper, from Australia, {poor grammar } lived in South Africa for 20years and currently residing in London United Kingdom, a widow to late Dr. Andrew Cooper. I am 80 years old and presently suffering from Leukemia. { incorrect spelling for Australia, South Africa and the UK. } My health condition has gotten { this word is rarely used outside the USA or those who have learned to speak American} worse and just two weeks ago my doctor informed me that my condition has reach {poor grammar but in this case it might simply be a typo } a critical stage, and that I have just 3 months left.
This confirmation from my doctor was and still is devastating news; it is hard to know that you have just a little time left to live here. My late husband was a contractor in both South Africa and London, he died in a plane crash and during the period of our marriage {this style of English is typical of West African spam scams, often called "The Nigerian Scam" } we could not bear any child. My late husband was very wealthy and after his death, I inherited all his businesses and wealth both in South Africa and London-United Kingdom.{ this style is unusual}
After the doctor’s medical pronunciation { this is the wrong word entirely and indicates that the writer is not as fluent in English as the mail might suggest} that I have just few months to live, I decided to divide my wealth to contribute to your country {the big give-away: "your country" appears in a very high proportion of this type of fraud. } and Africa where my late husband as a contractor made lots of money. I want to assist you with the funds to do great charity works in your country, { This pitch is very common in style of fraud }this is my last wish. I selected you after searching few {poor grammar. The omission of the indefinite article "a" before "few" is indicative of South East and South Asian variants of English }websites; I prayed and was led to you.{calling on God is a common tactic to attempt to create a sense of trust. Trust me: it doesn't work for most people but for some it does } I am willing to donate the sum of Four Million, Six Hundred thousand United States Dollars (USD$4,600,000.00) {It is incredible that this style of fraud, that predates the internet and even fax, still uses this style i.e. to set out the amount in both words and numbers } to the less privileged through you.
Please I want to transfer this money to you as I am traveling { incorrect spelling but htis might be due to nothing other than an incorrect spell-check dictionary being selected}to South Africa soonest to have my lawyer amend my WILL{ the use of capitals in this way has been a common approach in mail scams for decades}. If you can handle this fund and very sure to do { in a mail that is so carefully constructed, it is surprising to find such a garbled portion at hte most important part of its pitch. This is a clear indicator that there is something wrong}charity works on my behalf then I will include your name in my WILL when in South Africa, and from there I will travel to Australia to meet a specialist as I want to be buried alongside my late husband when I passed on. Note that this fund is in the financial institution {there are many grammatical mistakes here } and upon my instruction; I will file in an application through my family attorney {The term "attorney" is typical of US lawyers which suggests that the mail is targeted, primarily, at American recipients. If you aren't one, this shows that the mail is indiscriminate in its targeting. } for the transfer of the money into your account for the said purpose Lastly,{This makes no sense. }
I honestly pray that this money when transferred will be used for the said purpose even though I might be late then. I have come to find out that wealth is vanity and I made a promise to God that my wealth will be used to support the poor and the assist the sick. { This persuasion reinforces all that has gone before. Don't be fooled: it's a fraud. }Do let me know if you will be able to handle this fund and use it for the said purpose so that I will inform my attorney and my bank on my decision.
Reply to me using (annacoopeer23@gmail.com)
God bless you
Mrs. Anna Cooper
