Here's a representative passage from a recent scam email message inviting me to share in $11.5 million waiting in a Burkina Faso bank account. Keep in mind that the idea is I'm expected to believe that this is from a trustworthy banker with international experience.
As it may interest you to know, I got your impressive information through a boy I know very well whom is expact in searching in Burkina-Faso chamber of foreign relations here in Ouagadougou Burkina-Faso but with the information I gave him, he did it but left you to well clear me with a clear information to be sure of you I will love to hear from you whether you or not. Meanwhile all the whole arrangement to put claim over this fund as the confide next of kin to the deceased, to get the required approval and transfer this money to a foreign account has been put in place and directives and needed information will be relayed to you as soon as you indicate your interest and willingness to assist us and also benefit your self to this great business opportunity.
Yes. I think I see. However, just in case there had been any French influence on the writing that might lessen intelligibility, I used a free web translation service to translate it into French and then used the service again to translate the result back into English.
The result was the following:
As it can interest you to know, I obtained your information impressive by a boy that I know very well that expact in looked for in the room of Burkina FASO of foreign relations here in Ouagadougou Burkina FASO but with information I gave it, it did it but you leaves for me clarifyes well with a clear information to be sure of you I will like to hear. During this time all entire arrangement to put the complaint by over these funds as the confides after family to the deceased, obtain the demanded approval and transfers this money to a foreign account was put to his place of the and the directives and necessary information you will be relayed immediately that you indicate that your interest and kindness helps us and takes advantage also your oneself.
I didn't find this quite helpful enough, so I ran it through an English-to-Dutch translator, and then translated the Dutch automatically back into English. What I got was this:
If the you can interest, I obtained your information to know that impressive is through a boy that I know quite good that expact in for in the room of Burkina FASO of foreign relations of this in Ouagadougou Burkina FASO looked, but with information I gave him, it did him, but you leave to which me good with a clear information clear up certain of you I to be will Hold to hear. During this time will all complete agreements the complaint through over this fund set as it after family to the passed away entrusts, obtain it demanded approval and brings this count to a foreign bill over became gezet to its place of it and the guidelines and necessary information that you immediately passed become will that you that your interest indicated and kindness helps us and takes advantage also your us.
That's better. Still a few problems, but I'm sure that after I've given the guy in Africa my bank account details, account number, and password, we'll be able to sort it out the details of for convenience of the clear.
Posted by Geoffrey K. Pullum at September 6, 2005 09:56 AM