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43. Mr. Collin Shand / 2004

collin2@galmail.co.za
Subject: DEAR FRIEND

Mr. Collin Shand
Glendoven Farms,
Chipinge, Zimbabwe.

Dear Sir,

I am Colin Shand, a white Zimbabwean Farmer, the owner of Diary farms limited in Zimbabwe. I own three tobacco farms in Chipinge, and I am also a majority owner of Glendevon Farm also situated in Chipinge, in Zimbabwe.

You can see more details about my situation on BBC interviews and the website below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2187981.stm

I am contacting you as the need for me to have a foreign partner in your country has become necessary due to our plans to relocate to that country so that I can purchase some lands and start farming all over again as the present political instability inZimbabwe does not encourage financial investment as the environment is no longer conducive for farming investment and most of all security is not insured, just as reported by most international media.

This problem started when the Zimbabwean government under the leadership of President Robert Mugabe announced a decree on May 31st 2000 to seize more than 849 white-owned farms. During these periods, as reported by international media and the CNN, morethan 6 white farmers were killed. The government did not stop at this, as just recently the government have asked all white-farmers to give up their farms to black farmers or risk going to prison.

So far, more than 1,400 white owned farms have been invaded and confiscated, as well as claiming the properties of the farmers. Also, about 133 white farmers were arrested for defying the orders to leave their farms under the controversial land reform program of the government. Having lived in this country Zimbabwe for more than 43 years, I have no other country to go to, Therefore, I decided to contact you, for your assistance, so that I can divert my interest in Zimbabwe to a more stable country as yours. Also, I must re-iterate the importance of having a citizen of your country to front for me, since I intend to purchase some lands for farming, I do not know much about your land-ownership laws, I thought it wise to seek the help of a citizen to act as proxy for me.

For this purpose, I have deposited, all monies from the sale of our farming equipments (including tractors etc) and also all financial profits which in all, total amounted to US$14.6Million in a Bank in South Africa from where the funds was successfully transferred to Spain, I will upon receiving your consent make all arrangement to move my funds to you pending my arrival to meet with you in your country so that we canboth make further arrangements with regards to the purchase of lands.

Every modality will be worked out by me to ensure that the money is conveniently moved to your region to enable you receive it in person without any setbacks or inconveniences.

For your assistance to me, you will beentitled to a commission of 25% of the total sum that you will be receiving on my behalf for the above purpose.

If you are interested and willing to assist me, you should please forward to me via my private email address stated at the end of this mail the following information so that I can reach you:

1. YOUR FULL NAMES AND CONTACT ADDRESS
2. YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER
3. YOUR DATE OF BIRTH

I am waiting urgently for yourresponse, while also requesting that you treat this matter in strict privacy. Presently, I am in great danger and will appreciate youcorrespond with me via my confidential email address below.

Cheers and God bless.

Best Regards

Colin Shand (Mr), Glendoven Farms Pvt, Pte
Chipinge, Zimbabwe.
Please forward your reply to: Collin@mail2farmer.com

Several things make this effort less than convincing.
To name but two – the guy doesn't know whether to spell Colin with one "l" or two and he used the dreaded word modalities, which is found only in communications from Nigerian 419 scammers and their imitators.
And if he's got $14M in Spain, why does he need to send emails to complete strangers, asking them to help him to move it somewhere else?
Even so, a small doubt remained over whether this was an English speaking scammer or someone with a good opening letter. A little encouragement produced the following responses and replies:

to 'Collin/Colin':

From: Jenson Farrago
Sent: 5/17/2004 11:01:21 AM
To: Collin@mail2farmer.com
Subject: Re: farming land

Dear Mr. Shand,

A collegue has passed on your message to me as someone more likely to be of assistance to you. First let me express my sympathy with your plight. Mugabe and his gang of crooks have ruined the formerly prosperous Rhodesia while stealing from the people shamefully. I can see why you would want to get out of that blighted country and I am pleased to hear that you have been successful in transferring your assets to Spain. That simplifies things a lot.As far as moving the cash to the UK is concerned, the best way would probably be via a Discounted Eurozone Transfer. If this method sounds suitable, I could ask my accountant to look into setting up such a transfer. The admin costs should be quite moderate.

My niece Janine has inherited some mixed arable and dairy farmland in Cheshire which might be a suitable investment for you. Her husband Sam was in the process of assembling an estate and gaining options to buy neighbouring land when he was involved in his unfortunate accident. Janine has no head for business and the whole project has been left up in the air even though Sam's estate has now been settled.

I know that Janine would be willing to sell her interests to someone like yourself who has experience of managing a sizeable holding. She would certainly like to see the asset go to one single purchaser to keep alive her late husband's somewhat overambitious plan.

My only query at the moment is to the nature of the "modality" to which you refer. Could you please explain this further as I have never come across this particular technical term before. But subject to resolution of the "modality" issue, I think we may have a basis for mutual facilitation.

Yours sincerely,

J. Farrago.

from 'Collin':

Subject: Re: farming land
Date: Tue, 18 May 2004 01:18:08 -0700

dear sir
thanks for your kind respond to my mail
plaese i will sedn all the details
as soon as i conclude with my lawyer
however you details me your phone fax number s
and your address
also that the money can be move to london
yours
collin

to Colin/Collin:

Subject: expanation required
From: Jenson Farrago
Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 13:51:46 +0100

Dear Sir,

Who on Earth are you? Your lack of command of the English language in terms of spelling, grammar and punctuation demonstrates quite clearly that you are NOT the Mr. Colin Shand who sent me the original communication.

Kindly explain your relationship to Mr. Shand and how you come to have access to his email correspondence.

Yours sincerely,

J. Farrago.

back from 'Colin' proving he's just another non-English speaking scammer, even though he got the number of l's right in his name:

Subject: URGENT FROM COLLIN
Date: Tue, 18 May 2004 21:14:02 -0700

dear sir
am so sorry for that
please note am the original Colin Shand that send you the original communication it was due to health the time i sent you the mail .
am still waiting for your contact phone fax address so that i can forward it to my attorney for documentary

yours
Colin Shand

The next email from Colin/Collin was very brief:

Subject: Re: letter
Date: Sun, 23 May 2004 18:32:53 +0100

Please read the attached file!

Norton AntiVirus 2003 removed the attachment and left the following note in its place:

Norton AntiVirus removed the attachment: letter_farrago.zip.
The attachment was infected with the W32.Netsky.P@mm virus.

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