A Lady in South Africa, called Mrs Maria Steve, sent an email requesting to transfer funds out of South Africa. She promises to offer 25% of the US$5.5million to anyone who can assist them in the process to transfer the funds out of the country for external investments.

As usual, the story or background is quite simple, but it gets kinda confusing when they start talking about funds transfer with all the question marks in many places. No one with real millions of dollars in account would ever ask to transfer the money with the help of total strangers. Morons.

The only thing slightly more interesting in this mail is the reference to a recent local news at bbc.co.uk, regarding President Robert Mugabe.

Ok... below is the full mail header. Not too bad, the IP 165.165.149.240 actually originates from Za.

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From: "MISS MAIRA STEVE" <mariasteve_za16@hotmail.co.uk>
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Subject: TRANSFER OF FAMILY FUND
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:33:53 +0100
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From: MISS MAIRA STEVE [mailto:mariasteve_za16@hotmail.co.uk]
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 9:34 PM
Subject: TRANSFER OF FAMILY FUND

FROM MRS MARIA  STEVE
24 PRINCES AVENUE
WINDSOR WEST
CRESTA, JOHANNESBURG
SOUTH AFRICA
TEL: 27-73 867 1840

ATTN :SIR/MADAM

                     TRANSFER OF FAMILY FUND


I am sure you will be surprised to receive this letter, since you donot know me personally but consider it as a request from a widow in dareneed of your assistance. In brief introduction I am Mrs. MARIA STEVE a zimbabwean Citizen and the wife of  late MR.JAMES STEVE I got your contact address from the South Africa Information Exchange (S.A.I.E) and on behalf of my
family we seek your help. Before my husband's death 20th MARCH 2005, my husband was among the few rich Zimbabwean black farmers, murdered in cold blood by the agents of the ruling government of the incumbent President of Zimbabwe Dr.Robert Mugabe for his alleged support and sympathy for the Zimbabwean opposition party controlled by the white minority. This land reform mayhem arose when President Mugabe enforced his land reform act; the whole thing resulted to rampant killings and mob actions by his so-called war veterans against renewed farmers, both whites and blacks alike. Despite the world condemnation of this form of dictatorial
leadership, President Mugabe kept using this to subdue and intimidate his political enemies.I will like you to read on this website:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/918781.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/715001.stm

Farmers were the targets of the so-called veterans; this resulted to the death of a lot of good farmers in our country. Before the death of my husband, he took me to South Africa to deposit some huge amount of money in a security company for safekeeping; this fund was embarked for the purchase of land in Lesotho and Swaziland. He did not disclose the original content of the consignment to the security company. He declared the consignment as 'Archival Antiques' as if he foresees looming danger. My husband specifically drew my attention to his will and to the sum of (US$5.5 Million United States Dollars) that was deposited here in Johannesburg, South Africa with the security company. MY HUSBAND said and I quote "MY DEAR WIFE, I WISH TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MONEY WHICH I DEPOSITED IN SOUTH AFRICA TO FAVOUR YOU. IN CASE AND IN THE CAUSE OF MY ABSENCE ON EARTH, YOU SHOULD MAKE VERY GOOD USE OF THIS FUND FOR THE WELL BEING OF THE ENTIRE FAMILY."

Based on this explanation, your assistance is highly solicited to transfer this money out of here for investment purpose, without the knowledge of my government who had tactically frozen our wealth and the South Africa government seems to be playing along with them. We are faced with dilemma of investing this money in South Africa for fear of seizure since both countries seems to be working together we have been deliberating on how to invest this fund in your country in a confidential manner. We have concluded of investing in a rapidly growing business (Real Estate), which we know is on the rise all over the world. We would like to know the possibility of  this, and the amount required to Start up in your country or any other venture you could recommend to us will be welcome We are presently living in South Africa as asylum seeker, certain rights such as huge amount or to work while in the country are been denied. Therefore, if you accept to assist us, we are willing to offer you 25% of the total sum, 70% for us and 5% have been mapped out for any expenses that may occur during the cause of this transaction like hotel bills and flight tickets.

Note: Modalities on how the transfer will be done has been arranged and would be conveyed to you once we have established communication/trust with you. You’re urgent and immediate response will be highly appreciated. Please contact my son ALEX STEVE on his private phone number, TEL: 27-73  867  1840 or his Email:(alex_mz1000@yahoo.com.au)  for more explanations egarding this issue.
Best regards
MRS.MARIA STEVE
FOR THE FAMILY.