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Another Banker

It looks at though bank manager Woo Chong had a customer named Lawrence Smith that died without leaving a will and no relatives. Now, Woo wants to make sure that the fruit of the old man's labor (why does that sound familiar) doesn't fall into the hands of a corrupt government official but, instead, goes to a worthy cause (like Woo's IRA account).

In fact, this story sounds an awful lot like Yetunde Bassey's (see my post of June 10, 2003), who also had a bank customer that died, and Yutende also didn't want the fruit of the old man's labor to go to a corrupt government official and... HEY, WAIT A MINUTE!

Grade: F
Comments: Now, I'm not quite sure who plagiarized whom, but I think that Woo and Yutende need to get together and think about what they did. In the meantime, they both get an "F".

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FROM THE DESK OF:

MR. WOO CHONG
CHINATRUST COMMERCIAL BANK.
NAN KAN BRANCH, TAIWAN
REPUBLIC OF CHINA

I am Mr. Woo Chong, Bank Manager of Chinatrust Commercial Bank, Nan Kan branch, Taiwan, R.O.C. I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for you.

On June 6, 1998 [funny, Yutende's customer died on June 6, 1998 -- maybe Yutende is the one who copied from Woo], a British Oil consultant/contractor with the Chinese Solid Minerals Corporation [well, Yutende's custmer worked for Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation], Mr. Smith Lawrence made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$30,000,000.00 (Thirty Million Dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, the Chinese Solid Minerals Corporation that Mr. Smith Lawrence died from an automobile accident. On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL, and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless.

I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Smith Lawrence did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$30,000,000.00 is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it. According to Laws of Republic of China, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Chinese Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr. Smith Lawrence so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials [If you're going to copy, at least come up with some new prose]. This is simple [that's good because I'm not too good with complicated plans -- go ahead...], I will like you to provide immediately your full names and address so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits that will put you in place as the next of kin. We shall employ the services of an attorney for drafting and notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favor for the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world that you will provide will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 90% for me and 10% for you.

There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney and my position as the Branch Manager guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately via the private email address above. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction. Please send me your confidential telephone and fax numbers for easy communication [can I just give you my regular ones and say that they're confidential?].

Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us [Hey, I think Woo is Ferengi (think Star Trek) -- like Yutende! He definitely seems to have a handle on the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition] because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country.

Awaiting your urgent reply via my email address.

Thanks and regards.

Mr. Woo Chong