Apathy Sketchpad

from:    Helen DICKSON <hel_dickson7@yahoo.com>
to:    bhassan@coralwave.com
date:    Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 3:52 PM
subject:    MY BELOVED ONE

My Dear Good Friend,

It is with tears that I am writing this message to you from a hospital bed,

I am Mrs Helen DICKSON. A widow to late Mr. David DICKSON, who worked with Elf Petroleum Company in France for nine years before he died in the year 2002. We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.

Before his death we were both born again Christian. Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $18.5 Million with a Bank in Benin Republic Presently this money is still in the custody of the Bank in Benin Republic.

Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Eight months due to cancer problem, but I know that my doctor is not God. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a Church, Organisation or good person that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein.

I want a Church, Organisation or good person that will use this fund for Orphanages, Widows and other peoples that need help and also propagating the word of God and to endeavours that the house of God is maintained.

The Bible made us to understand that “Blessed is the hand that giveth ” I took this decision because I don’t have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians not even good at all because they are the one that are responsible for the death of my husband in other to have all my late husband properties and I don’t want my husband’s effort to be used by those that conspired for his death or for ungodly things.

This is why I am taking this decision, I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosoms of the Lord. Exodus 14 Vs 14 says that “the Lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace”.
I don’t need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health hence the presences of my husband’s relatives are around me always. I don’t want them to know about this development and I know that with God all things are possible to those who trust in Him and to those who work by faith. As soon as I received your reply I shall give you the contact of the Bank in Benin Republic.

I will also issue a letter of authorization to the bank that will prove you the present beneficiary of this money. I also want you, Church or Organization to always pray for me because the Lord is my only Shephard.

My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. Whoever that wants to serve the Lord must serve Him in spirit and truth. Please always be prayerful through your life.
The Government normally assist me financially and materially,
after all tranzactions been made, this enable me given more funds.

Contact me on this email address or in hel_dickson@live.fr and any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another good person, church or organization for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein. Hopping to receive your response immediately,

Thanks and Remain blessed in the Lord.
I remain yours sister in Christ.
Mrs Helen DICKSON

They’re always very religious, are 419 scammers, and invariably Christian. Probably because they think it makes them appear trustworthy. This is one of many ways they repeatedly demonstrate how little they know me, although emailing me in the first place is pretty well sufficient for that.

from:    Andrew Taylor <taylor.andrew@gmail.com>
to:    Helen DICKSON <hel_dickson7@yahoo.com>, hel_dickson@live.fr
date:    Sat, May 10, 2008 at 5:23 PM
subject:    Re: MY BELOVED ONE

David Dickson is dead? That’s a tragedy. He will be missed.

Still, though, $18.5 million… That’s a real bobby-dazzler. You could buy a lot of orphans food with that.

I understand chips are cheap.

Andrew

This next message arrived twice, in a giant font:

from:    Helen DICKSON <hel_dickson7@yahoo.com>
to:    Andrew Taylor <taylor.andrew@gmail.com>
date:    Fri, May 16, 2008 at 12:49 PM
subject:    Re: MY BELOVED ONE

My Beloved brother Andrew,

Greetings in the name of our lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

I thank you very much for your concern towards me this period; I pray that the almighty God will bless you abundantly in Jesus name Amen.

Thank you for your reply and sincerity so far and I pray that the almighty GOD will protect you as you set out to help in making sure that these money reach to the less -privileged in the society.

I am very happy despite my painful situations here in this hospital for knowing a faithful true Christian like you who has the true love and fear of the almighty GOD, For I could see Many people unaware of the Right Path of GOD this days of end time.

Sincerely I got your email contact address when I was searching for a person or organizations that will be of a good help to me; as my situations are getting bad each day.

Please I will like to tell you a little detail about my self first and why I decided to do this, and I hope that you will understand me, I have no single fear in telling you all about me, only that you have to see this as a humanity work of GOD that need sincerity, faithfulness, and trust please don’t see it as a chance to make your self rich.

I got married to my late husband about eleven years ago and since then we where living in happiness although that we had no child, until when the wicked world that is full with bad wicked people came with death, then when he is about to die that he called me and make me promise him that I should make sure that this money will be given out to the less privileged and the poor who are suffering in the world, But I did not give this money out according to my late husband wish since then till now that I am very sick to death and I am praying for GOD forgiveness.

Three months after the shock of my husband death I started having pains inside me, I went to the hospital to see my doctor then it was discovered that I have this bad and dangerous sickness, which since then I had undergone various medical test and operations just to see if I can safe my life but (ooh GOD, Here now I cant stand up or can be able to see that my late husband wished is done by myself.

The worst of it is that my late husband relative and brothers wanted me to die just for them to come and inherit all my husband wealth and properties, so none of them came to see me in the hospital now or ask me how I am for they are happy that I had no child of my own, so that is why I had make up my mind to see that these money will out from here and that it will be given out as the wish of my husband before I die as my situation and conditions now cant allow me to do this myself.

Please I am now writing with tears so I will like to stop here until when I will hear from you and if possible I will like to see you face to face and also if you can please send to me a copy of your picture.
Right now you are all that I have as my brother, sister and best friend so please try as much as you can to make sure that this money is used as I had told you even if I die, for I cant tell what tomorrow will bring to my life as of now.

Please do not see this as a chance of getting rich but take this as a help, and as a humanitarian work of GOD no matter what you will gain in it, is only the almighty GOD will reward you back.

Please after reading this mail reply back to me, with your phone number and your country codes so that i will call you to talk with you and also then I will give you all the documents concerning this money with the bank and tell you how to contact the bank for the transfer.

Thanks as I wait to read from you soon
Mrs Helen Dickson.

A trip to Google Image Search later, and I sent this:

from:    Andrew Taylor <taylor.andrew@gmail.com>
to:    Helen DICKSON <hel_dickson7@yahoo.com>
date:    Sun, May 18, 2008 at 4:03 PM
subject:    Re: MY BELOVED ONE

Helen,

I was glad to get your letter. I always look for quality pieces of mail. I was sorry to hear of your illness. That’s a bit of a duffer.

Please find attached my photograph. I trust that yours is beautiful, because David was known to always look for perfection.

Especially in porcelain.

Andrew

I attached this picture.

from:   Helen DICKSON <hel_dickson7@yahoo.com>
to:    Andrew Taylor <taylor.andrew@gmail.com>
date:    Mon, May 19, 2008 at 9:29 AM
subject:    Re: MY BELOVED ONE

Good morning Mr. Andrew,
your message is received. It’s content is understood. I also got your picture. But you have to send me your phone number, the zip codes of your country so that i can call you and discuss with you before i send you all the documents concerning this money with the Bank contacts.

Thanks,
Mrs. Helen Dickson

Do countries have zip codes? Who knows. They do now…

from:    Andrew Taylor <taylor.andrew@gmail.com>
to:    Helen DICKSON <hel_dickson7@yahoo.com>
date:    Mon, May 19, 2008 at 9:53 AM
subject:    Re: MY BELOVED ONE

Helen,

Unfortunately I do not own a telephone. I tried to buy one at Ockshun, but I missed it for a bid.

The zip code of my country is GB1 4SG. I imagine my street has one, too.

Andrew

I realise now just how emotionally powerful my telephone-buying story is, because I got this by way of reply:

from:    Helen DICKSON <hel_dickson7@yahoo.com>
to:    Andrew Taylor <taylor.andrew@gmail.com>
date:    Tue, May 20, 2008 at 9:03 AM
subject:    Re: MY BELOVED ONE

GOOD MORNING ANDREW

THANK YOU FOR SENDING ME THIS MESSAGE. YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO BE YOUR FRIEND TO GET SOME KNOWLEGDE BECAUSE YOU ARE MORE BRAINY AND MORE WISE THAN ME. I AM TELLING YOU THE TRUTH. MY REAL NAME IS MAURICE, I HAVE JUST FINISHED MY STUDY IN COMPUTER MAINTENANCE. SO I NEEDED SOME MONEY TO OPEN MY OFFICE BECAUSE I DON’T GET ANY BODY TO HELP ME FINANCIALLY [MY PARENTS ARE NOT ALIVE], THAT WHY I AM DOING THIS UGLY WORK. BUT FROM TODAY, I STOP BECAUSE OF YOU.
EXCUSE ME

MAURICE.

Attachment (click to enlarge):

Hold on, what? This has never happened to me before. Can this be real? I can’t figure out where a scam might go from here, but then… the telephone story wasn’t that moving, was it?

from:    Andrew Taylor <taylor.andrew@gmail.com>
to:    MAURICE. <hel_dickson7@yahoo.com>
date:    Thu, May 22, 2008 at 10:31 AM
subject:    Re: MY BELOVED ONE

Dammit, why does this always happen when I meet a nice girl on the internet?

This never happens really. There are a couple of people who could stand to get quite offended if that’s not made clear.

from:    Helen DICKSON <hel_dickson7@yahoo.com>
to:    Andrew Taylor <taylor.andrew@gmail.com>
date:    Fri, May 23, 2008 at 4:50 PM
subject:    Re: MY BELOVED ONE

GOOD MORNING ANDREW,
I RECEIVED YOUR MESSAGE. DON’T WORRY ABOUT THIS KIND OF THINGS. IT HAPPENS TO HUMAN BEEING. NOT ANIMALS. I AM SORRY OK ?

Er, okay. I’m wholly unsure if I should have any sympathy for this guy. I mean, he is, or was, a criminal, but he has at least apologised, and clearly he’s also an idiot.

from:    Andrew Taylor <taylor.andrew@gmail.com>
to:    Helen DICKSON <hel_dickson7@yahoo.com>
date:    Fri, May 23, 2008 at 11:56 PM
subject:    Re: MY BELOVED ONE

You’re right, I imagine this almost never happens to a gazelle. I can’t even imagine that most of them have email.

Andrew

I’ll keep replying as long as he does, and I think maybe I’ll try my telephone auction story on a couple of other scammers in case they turn straight too. But in the meantime, I think this is the end of the story of Maurice and his Amazing Educated Rodents. (At least, I assume there are rats in his house and they’re smarter than him.)