Sadly it appears the game is up. Michel Robert is not play­ing my games any longer. Or so it would seem.

He sent me an obscure email — with the sub­ject line YES A JOKER.

I told him in no uncer­tain terms that I was not. And he responded:

“WHERE ARE YOU NOW?. I WAS EXPECTING TO RECEIVE THE MONEY SO I CAN GET THE DOCUMENTS”

I responded, unwill­ing to give up, request­ing the photo…

How can I send you the money?

I need your photo.

Get back to me with the details for the trans­fer and the photo as soon
as possible.

He wasn’t recep­tive to my response…

“NO THE LAWYER WANT ME TO COME TO HIS OFFICE WITH THE MONEY AND HE SAID HE WILL CONTACT YOU AS SOON AS HE GOT THOSE DOCUMENTS READY”

I smelled a rat. Per­haps his uncles had caught up with him. I had to be sure…

You need to get me the photo. As soon as pos­si­ble. And I will send you the money — you are act­ing strangely. Prove to me that you are for real. I have $10,000 to wire you to get you out of the coun­try and into safety. BUT I MUST SEE THAT YOU ARE OK. That your uncles haven’t taken over your account. AND THAT YOU ARE PREPARED TO FOLLOW MY INSTRUCTIONS.

His response took me by surprise…

I TOLD YOU YESTERDAY TO SEND ME THE MONEY THROUGH WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER ON MY NAME AND ADDRESS

MICHEL ROBERT
12 BP 4010 ABIDJAN 12
ABIDJAN
COTE D’IVOIRE
WEST AFRICA.

SEND ME THE TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER AS SOON AS YOU SEND THE MONEY.

MICHEL.

He had done no such thing. So I called him out on this lie…

“No you didn’t. I’ve checked my emails — I have no record of that request.

I don’t think you are Michel.

I think you are his uncles — and I think you’ve killed him. I am going
to go to the police with­out proof that you are really Michel. I
under­stand you are under stress and might not be keep­ing track of the
emails you send.

I will send you 10,000 when I get the photo. Not before. Oth­er­wise I
will go to the police, and the lawyer, and the secu­rity com­pany and
inform them that Michel Robert has been mur­dered by his uncles. Run
away uncles. While you have the chance.

I will come for you — you have killed my Michel.”

And he brushed me off…

” which instruc­tion do you want me to fol­low?. I told you how impor­tant it is for me to leave here but you are ask­ing me to send you photo. in the first place, i have started won­der­ing if you are telling me the truth because it seems you are lying to me or you may want to play with me. i do not have money to snap the pic­ture and dont ever ask me to send you the pic­ture again because i have no means to snap the photo. if you dont want to help me, please go with you $10,000 and i dont need it. not intrested in your games”

Author: Nathan Campbell

Nathan runs St Eutychus. He is currently a student at the Queensland Theological College. In a previous professional life he worked in public relations for an economic development and tourism marketing organisation. He is married to Robyn. He likes coffee and the internet.

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