I just read the following from my gmail inbox. It’s probably one of the most offensive scam messages I have seen in a while.

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Dear Beloved,

Please treat this mail with utmost sympathy and the fear of God. i write this mail with tears and sorrow; I am not asking for self pity, but love to my only surviving son. This mail may seem very painful and sorrowful, but there is more you can do in my request than to pity me, which is to show LOVE to my son. I am the only issue of my dead parents, i am 54 years of age.

My name is Mrs. Cynthia Rice, married to the late James Rice, who died with our two daughters in Haiti on 13th of January 2010 during the Haiti Earthquake, Please go to website:http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/13/haiti.updates/index.html,Since after this painful and sorrowful incident, my illness, Pericaditis (inflammation of the tissue layers surrounding the heart) and Uremia (kidney failure) aggravated which resulted to heart failure.I was ignored by my friends due to my present health predicament. Presently, my only means of communicating with people around me is through body language and writing as instructed by the medical specialist.

I, my husband and our children have been in United Kingdom for a long time due to my medical treatment. My husband and 2 kids decided to travel to Haiti on 29th December 2009 for a 2 weeks end of year vacation, but my doctor did not permit me to travel with them, which made I and my son to stay behind while my husband and our two daughters traveled. If not, all of us would have perished in the disaster.

The reason i write this mail is due to my deteriorating ill health. After my last diagnosis result, it was reported by the doctors that I may not live for more than one month ahead, due to the damage this ill health have caused in my system unless I undergo an urgent surgical heart and kidney transplant which my chance of survival is less than 10% according to the medical experts. As it stands, I have given to fate and have found God on my sick bed. But I have a more pressing problem, which is why I have to Contact you.

Please, this is about my son, his name is Jeffrey. Since it is now obvious that I will die, my son’s future have been the greatest problem I have. I want you to take care of my son please. He is only 10years old and we have no one here to take care of him if I die today.My friends deserted me a long time due to my health condition .
My Husband left some money (About US$8.5Million) in a deposit house at United Kingdom at Royal Bank of Scotland Plc, which we have been using for my medical treatment. I am the next of kin / Beneficiary but according to the prediction of the doctors, if i pass on, I will want you to use the balance of this money to take very good care of my son as i would have done if i am alive and build a business empire which my son Jeffrey will inherit 50% of the investment on his 25th birthday. I will like you to take Jeffrey as your own son, give him the love we the parents would have given him.

Do not let him feel the pains of being an orphan, give him good education, bring him up into a responsible man. Make him have the fear of God. Please do not refuse this task for I have no one else to help me out on this issue.
As soon as I receive your reply and personal details, that is:

(1) YOUR FULL NAME
(2) RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS
(3) AGE
(4) SEX

Consenting to my proposition, I will authorize my bank to transfer the money to your account directly and I will also draw up my WILL in your favor indicating that 50% of the dividends and profits made from the future investment with this money will be handed over to my only son Jeffrey on his 25th birthday. This will be made with the assistance of my late husband’s  attorney.

You do not have to pay any fees to the Attorney for that I will take care of. Also, I will give the bank all the documents that are covering the deposit with the bank, I will transfer every power and right of ownership to you stating at my Will to enable you claim the deposit from the bank. It will be also included in the Will that you are the only person my son should be released to, if i die. All I need is your acceptance and assurance that you will not treat my son badly.

I am writing you this mail with great tears and I pray you will be kind & honest with the fear of God concerning this mail to you today.

Please reply this mail immediately if you have the love and care of God to: mrscynthia.rice@hotmail.com

Thank you.
Mrs. Cynthia Rice
All about my only son Jeffrey