A hoax. I'm on another academic listserv and there was a similar bogus message pretending to be from a colleague (who, needless to say, was surprised to learn that he had been mugged in Nigeria).
John Kloppenborg University of Toronto _____ From: The papyrological bulletin '[email protected]' [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bezalel Porten Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 10:08 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [PAPY] Emergency how did you get my name and address? How are you today? I went to Nigeria for a program called (Empowering students to handle conflicts and promote peace in West Africa).And i was attacked by Arm Robbers here i Nigeria and with that shock i was taking to the Hospital and was admitted in the Hospital for three days now. I have just recovered from the shock and now am very stranded here because my wallet was stolen by the robbers and my ATM card and other valuable things like my I.D card is missing along with the wallet. The Problem now is so bad because i have to pay for my hotel bill and the Hospital bill with my Flight ticket back to Egypt The robbers have taking all i have as i do not even have my ATM card to get quick cash and get the bills paid, Please at this point i really need your help urgently to help me send money and i promise to return the money as soon as i return to Mansoura, Dakahlia Egypt Monday Morning Please you will help me send $3500 to help me pay all this bills,I need to hear from you soon so that I will send you the information you will be sending the money to me through MoneyGram.But the problem is that i have gone to the MoneyGram outlet here and was told that i would not be able to used my international passport to get the money pick up because it is not a Nigerian Passport and i am still in the hospital receiving treatment,So i have decided to used a good friend of mine here who is a professor in the university of Lagos Nigeria by name Professor Mustafa Farooq so please you will be sending the money to his information to help me get the money picked up in MoneyGram or Western Union Nigeria,Please be rest assured that I will pay back the money as soon as i arrive Egypt by Monday Morning,And please understand that your help is much needed right now because am very stranded. Waiting to hear from you. With best regards -- Magdy A.I Aly Assistant Lecturer, Papyrologist Mansoura University Classics Department Ahmed Maher Street City of Mansoura, Dakahlia Governorate, 35111 Egypt http://mansvu.mans.edu.eg/sitegen/staff/long/index.php?did=349
