(this is an actual email I received)

I feel pleased contacting you today hoping that this timed contact will bring us together into a lasting relationship rooted on truth and fear of God.

In brief, I am Mrs NORA SIDNEY, the wife of the assassinated ADC to the president of the democratic Republic of Congo to General Laurent Kabila who sustained bullet injury during the attack. It is regrettable the ADC died during the military assault at the presidential villa.

He my husband spoke with me and my eldest son Edward before he left for the meeting. Though, he has earlier disclose to us that the giant box in his inner room contains US$25,750,000.00 (twenty five million seven hundred and fifty thousand United State dollars) and 185 kg of alluvial gold dust of 22 karat.

There was so much pressure on us that we feared we might be killed also, this led to our decision to move out of the official house to my husband private house in our country home in Blukwa in the north-eastern Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Presently, I am residing in Abidjan with my son Edward due to the circumstances encraved upon my family. After all the hard time I went through in Congo I succeeded in smuggling out this giant box to Abidjan Republic of Cote d'Ivoire. This box is presently deposited in a security company here in Abidjan registered as vital valuables.

Now my main aim of contacting you is to solicit for your assistance to move this fund abroad immediately and invest wisely with it so that the surviving members of my family will not go hungry or start their education. You are also expected to assist me scout for buyers for the gold to be disposed off. The resulting chaos has turned my health into a living hell as I have develop heart problem. If you understand my situation you will surely take pity to assist me in a hurry.

Importantly, you should visit us here in Abidjan to enable us hold brief meeting face to face or you send me your telephone and fax numbers and your bank particulars for immediate transfer.

Your assistance will earn you 30% of the total proceed and 5% will cover any expenses we may incur during the transfer of both the fund and the gold dust.

This proposal is strictly urgent and confidential because this is my hope in life. Let this confidence reposed on you not be misplaced.