Yesterday, I got a 419 scam via the contact form. This is a new low for spam stupidity. You’d think people who blog are more likely to be aware of Internet scams because they’re reading the news, are clearly more comfortable with technology, and often make fun of news stories about 419 scammers.

But if you’re for real, I have this to say to you: Be careful! I’m sure you are being completely truthful when you say you are the only child of Deposed Corrupt Dictator XYZ, but be aware that there are many unscrupulous people claiming the same thing! So watch out for Vivian, Pierre, Lama, Austine, Martin, Kabilla, Jean Paul, Farek, David, Curimbada, Cynthia, and of course, Dictator Junior. It’s very disappointing that there are so many impostors trying to get their hands on the fortune that you stole and that by rights belongs to you.

Also watch out for XYZ’s former Finance Minister, accountant, widow, brother, and hair stylist. They’re after the same thing.

Good luck.

(I also find it impressive that you were able to embezzle $100 billion U.S. dollars, since your country raises less than $2 billion per year in tax revenues. How you managed to amass that much money so quickly is truly an amazing accomplishment of economics. If you returned even just half of that money back to the country in exchange for amnesty, that would fund your government for a generation. Think about it. Do it for the children.)

P.S. I was joking about the hair stylist. Please don’t hurt him.