ON THE LITE SIDE - Maybe

"It was only a matter of time" by Shashank Bengali, McClatchy News

This email came over from a friend via Facebook. If this is a Nigerian 419er's idea of a joke, I think it's a pretty good one:

Dearest one,

This email may come as a surprise to you, but I need the assistance of someone with trust and discretion and I know that I can rely on you. I need to ask you to support an urgent secret business relationship with a transfer of funds of great magnitude.

I am the head of the Treasury Department of the Republic of America. Due to a crisis in my country, I have the opportunity to transfer 800 billion dollars US. If you would assist me in this transfer, it would be most profitable to you. This transaction is 100% safe.

This is a matter of great urgency. We cannot directly transfer these funds in the names of our close friends because we are constantly under surveillance. My family lawyer advised me that I should look for a reliable and trustworthy person who will act as a next of kin so the funds can be transferred.

Please reply with all of your bank accounts, IRA and college fund account numbers and those of your children and grandchildren so that we may transfer your commission for this transaction. After I receive that information, I will respond with detailed information about safeguards that will be used to protect the funds.

Yours Faithfully,
Henry Paulson
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury