I think this has to be one of the most cynical scams that I have come across thus far. Usually it is someone from a bank in Burkhina Fhaso who has money to launder — usually from some dead oriental businessman who they can apparently link with me for the purposes of transferring his estate (it’s kind of amazing the number of planes that are apparently dropping out of the sky above this region of africa).

Anyway, so today I get an email purporting to be from a soldier stationed in Iraq who needs to get money out of the country. Not only does the idea sound ridiculous and far-fetched but it is in very bad taste. Not that I am saying that dead oriental businessmen aren’t in bad taste but … ah, you get what I’m saying.

I have relatives and friends who have served in the middle east as part of the peace-keeping force out there and though I had problems with politicians and the reasons they gave for sending people out there I have always had the utmost respect for the brave men who volunteer to go out there. This kind of shit does make me angry — they have to think people are angry and I suppose if one person out of a hundred actually falls for this idiotic con then it is worth their while. I hope their inbox gets flooded with angry emails telling them to have some respect.