Dear Pastor Reverend in Jesus Christ's Name,

I don't know if this will interest anyone. I imagine that few people are keen to read someone else's spam. But I've always been curious if other professions receive similar specialized email solicitations. Any clergy with their email addresses out on church websites will regularly receive bunk messages, often from Nigeria and not always in good English, about someone with a vast estate who died with no beneficiary. They are looking for a charity to give it to, or someone to help move it out of the country. All you have to do if give them your bank account number, social security number, etc. Here are two examples:

Dear Beloved In The Lord,
From: Mrs Rose Martins Toyo

Praise be to the name of God most high. I am Mrs. Rose Martins Toyo from Tunisia, married to Dr. Martins Toyo who served as an archdeacon in the St. Micheal's archdeaconry in Ivory Coast for 14 years ,before he died in the year 2003. We were married for 33 years without any child.

My husband died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death we were both Christians and since his death I decided not to re-marry. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of USD5,500,000.00 (Five Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in cash,packaged in bundles into a metalic box. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Six months due to my cancer illness.

Having known my condition and believing the doctor I have decided to donate this fund to avoid total loss to church, Less privilege, or better still a Christian individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. I am interested in helping orphanages ,widows and propagating the Gospel and to ensure that the house of God is maintained. Please do not fail to spread the funds across the globe.

The Bible made us to understand that it is more blessed to give than to receive. I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are fighting over the properties and I don't want my husband's hard earned money to be misused by their greedy attitude. I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an UNGODLY manner, hence the reason for taking this bold decision.

I am not afraid of death since I am a good christian. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord. The bible 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, and because of the presence of my husband's relatives around me always. I don't want them to know about this development. With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact information of the lawyer in charge of taking care of negotiations on this and other details that will enable you claim the box from the security company .

The lawyer will issue you a letter of authority/Power of Attorney that will make you the beneficiary of this fund. I want you to always pray for me because the lord is my shepherd. 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 all through your life.

I sent you this mail under severe pains. Any delay in your reply will be detrimental. Please assure me that you will act accordingly. Remain blessed in the name of the Lord.

Yours in Christ,
Mrs. Rose Martins Toyo.

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St. Peter's Catholic Church
140 Pewits Street
Woolwich London
Se18 6JL

ATTN: Revd. Timothy Matkin
91 South Davis Drive
Arlington, TX 7613-2420

Notification of Bequest
On behalf of the trutees and executor of the willed portion of late Engr Williams Mckee. I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter to you through the post office was returned undelivered. I hereby attempt to reach you via your e-mail address. I wish to notify you that late Engr. Williams Mckee made you a beneficiary to his will. He left the sum of Seven undred and Fifty Thousand Pounds (UKP £750,000.00) to you in the codicil and last testament to his will.

Being a widely traveled man, he must have been in contact with you in the past or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends abroad who wished you good. Engr. Williams Mckee. until his death was the general Director and pioneer staff of Cocacola Company of London. He was a very dedicated Christian who loved to give out. His great hilanthropy earned him numerous a wards during his life time. Late Engr. Williams Mckee. died on the 26th day of may 1990 at the age of 72 years, and his will is now ready for execution. According to him this money is to support your Christian activities and to help the poor and the needy, which was his last instructions to his attorney, Barrister Richard Moore.

Please If I reach you as I am hopeful, endeavour to get back to me as soon as possible to enable the immediate execution of your portion of the equest to enable earlier disbursment by the Paying Bank. You should forward along your personal Telephone and personal Fax numbers, including a proof to confirm your identity as the eneficiary in question and your current mailing address if different from the above. Proof of Identity should be either clergy ID or International passport or drivers License. Send achine copy or dentity proof by attachment.You are to send to him or me a copy of your driving licence, clergy ID or passport to him either by attachment via email by attachment or you demand I would send you the Obituary notice of Late Engr Williams Mckee. for your perusal and maybe you would recognise him.

I hope to hear from you in no distant time.

Yours in His service
Fr. John Goddard
Parish Priest

I keep trying to help, but these money transfers always seem to work in reverse.