199

S

Master and Mugu

ORIENTALIST MIMICRY AND CYBERCRIME

7

On F e br ua r y 1 4 , 2 0 0 9 , I received an unsolicited email message of-
fering me a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get rich. It read, in part: “I am
Barrister Gerry Meyer, the attorney at law to Late Michael Krings, a na-
tional of your country, and a gold merchant here in Republic of Benin
West Africa. Herein after shall be referred to as my client. On the 27th of
May 2004, my client, his wife and their only child were involved in a car
accident along Sagbama express-road. All occupants of the vehicle un-
fortunately lost their lives.” I was further informed that the late Michael
Krings left a huge deposit with the “Banque Atlantique Benin,” which
needed to be clea red soon lest it fa l l i nto gover n ment ha nds. The ba r r ister
continued:

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over two years

now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased

since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account

valued at $18.5 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can

share the money. 50% to me and 50% to you. I will procure all necessary

legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. A ll I

require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through. I

guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that

will protect you from any breach of the law.