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November 29, 2009

Oh yeah, I travel in elite circles, so of course I'm going to get email from the U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. That's as good a name as any to abuse in a 419 scam that invokes the U.S. and British governments, as well as the United Nations. He tosses in a Citi Bank branch in Nigeria for good measure.

Thanks to one missing letter, this scammer's missive gets off to a rocky start:

From: MR HILLARY CLINTON
Subject: SECRETARY OF STATE

Let me pause right here. A snarky diplomat recently called Bill Clinton "Mr. Hillary Clinton" to imply that his various activities are under Hillary's control. Needless to say, the email's error was good for a mini-laugh.

UNITED STATE OF AMERICA
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN PAYMENT
RESOLUTION PANEL ON PAYMENT)
WASHINGTON DC

Attention: Beneficiary

I wish to use this medium and my new office to inform you that your CONTRACT/INHERITANCE Payment of USD$10m (TEN Million Dollars) from CITI BANK OF NEW YORK has been RELEASED and APPROVED for onward transfer to you via an ATM CARD which you will use to withdraw all the USD$10m in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world, but the maximum you can withdraw in a day is USD$10,000 Only

The UNITED STATE OF AMERICA government has mandated CITI BANK OF NIGERIA, to send you the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER with other relevant document from our government and British government and the united nation, You are therefore advice to contact director and the Head of ATM CARD Department of CITI BANK OF NIGERIA for further instructions and to release your approved ATM CARD to you.

Contact Person: Mr. PHILIP EZE
CITI BANK OF NIGERIA
Phone number: +234[removed]
EMAIL: (mrphilipezee@[removed free email domain].com)

Tell Mr. PHILIP EZEE that you received a message from the OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE to send you the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER AND ALL THE DOCUMENT which you will use to withdraw your USD$10 Million Dollars, also send him your direct phone number and contact address where you want him to send the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER to you BUT YOU WILL PAY FOR THE LITTLE INSURANCE AND SHIPMENT FEES FOR DELIVERY.

All the document regards to the release of the fund has been handed over to Mr. PHILIP EZE for delivery.

I am very sorry for the delay you have gone through in the past years. Thanks for adhering to this instruction and once again accept my congratulations.

Best Regards.
MRS. HILLARY CLINTON

At least the crook warns recipients that there will be some upfront fees. But they won't be little, and they won't stop with the first installment. Nor do such an ATM card and fund even exist.

I'd like this guy to be caught for only one reason: to be brought to Washington where Hillary can give him the stank eye for five minutes. That might scare him straight.