Das Tagebuch Murnaus

I got this in my e-mail today.
What kind of shady deal could this be?

***

Date: Wed, 08 Aug 2007 07:02:54 -0700
From: JAMES OWEN <jamesowen2066@yahoo.com>
To: ltmurnau@xxxxxxx.com
Subject: RESERVATION

Hello,

I have a sponsored client from london who wants to spend 30 days in your Place prior to a missionary retreat which they have in the state and will like to stay in your place for the periods he will stay.He is coming with his wife and will like to rent your place from 1st November arrival date to 31st November departure date .

Please let me know the total cost for this 30 days stay including security
deposit,cleaning and other necessary fees or in a situation whereby this whole 30days will not be available consecutively,you're also required to state the periods you have available within this time range and the total amount to be paid.

Please state out clearly all the fees required to be paid for this 30 days stay and also give me the total amount so that your check payment will be delivered to with immediate effect via courier service.

Please note: you are required to state clearly the fees he will be required to pay and sum them all up in total.And remember that the arrival date is 1st November.2007 and departure date is 31st November 2007.

Get back to me with the dates that are free for reservation ,so that we can book reservations for them immediately.

Thank you and have a nice day.

Regards,

***

Setting aside the facts, of course, that my "Place" is not and never was for rent, I would not care to have a clergyman stay in my house, and I live in a province, not a state:

From the spotty orthography and syntax I gather this was written by a non-English speaker (or an illiterate). I guess the scam is that the "check payment" will never be delivered, or there will be some other banking irregularity - with some extra fees I'd have to pay. Or perhaps he needs to set aside a clear month when he can burgle my house.

Sheesh!

Well, this is a variation on that scam that I hadn't seen before - just got it in my mailbox:


Good day,

My name is Sgt John Fletcher , a british soldier Serving in the military of the 1st Armored Division in Iraq, As you know we are being attacked by insurgents everyday and car bombs. We managed to move funds belonging to Saddam Hussien's family. The total amount
is US$25 Million dollars in cash, mostly 100 dollar bills. We want to move this money to you, so that you may invest it for us and keep our share for banking. We will take 700%, my partner and I. You take the other 30%. no strings attached, just help us move it out of
Iraq, Iraq is a warzone. We plan on using diplomatic courier and shipping the money out in one large silver box, using diplomatic immunity.

If you are interested I will send you the full details, my job is to find a good partner that we can trust and that will assist us. Can I trust you? When you receive this letter,kindly send me an e-mail signifying your interest including:

Your most confidential telephone/fax numbers for quick communication including your contact details. This business is risk free.

Respectfully,

Sgt John Fletcher.


He even used a ukarmy.mil email address - clever, but the writing gives it away, even if you are not familiar with the scam. Nice touch with the "silver box".