A Sucker born every minute

“There is a sucker born every minute” is a famous quotation of American circus impresario P.T. Barnum. I always thought his sentiments a tad cynical until recent years. We are all somewhat trusting of our neighbors and friends. I don’t see that as a negative feeling but rather a much-desired sentiment.

But my feelings were formed before the advent of the Internet. Since then we are under a bombardment of Nigerian customs officials who only need a few thousand dollars from you to move a huge gold shipment. Or, any one of similar offers that propose a fantastic opportunities that will make you richer than Croesus in an instant.

Investment crook Bernie Madoff also helped sour the American consciousness by fraudulently siphoning off billions of dollars from friends neighbors and colleagues in a speculative Ponzi scheme that crashed a few years back, leaving many seniors bereft of their life savings.

You would think that the public would be somewhat more attuned to these electronic pirates after all of the bad publicity. And yet, in today’s e-mail batch I received the following:

Good day,

I am sorry to intrude into your privacy. It's due to untapped investment fund I discovered as Executive Officer of a financial institution in Asia. I will discuss details and investment plan on your response.

Regards

James Morrow 

     Wow, who wouldn’t jump at the chance of an offer like this? Let me get my checkbook and start dreaming of newly acquired millions. Yeah, right! The scoundrel! I wish there was a way to put all of these rascals into a small parcel of land where they could prey on each other for the rest of their lives instead of bilking admittedly gullible elders citizens of money they need to live on.

          Maybe I will send this guy an e-mail, from an anonymous computer, advising him that I have millions of dollars to invest. He just needs to wait by his phone for a few weeks until I can claim my inheritance from the Howard Hughes estate and transfer it to him. At least that way I could chuckle for a few weeks, thinking of this avaricious swine sitting by his phone salivating at the riches that will never come his way. It may not be much in the way of fighting back, but at least it is a start. And maybe the Nigerian customs agents will send me a better offer.

                                    -30-

                             (411 words)

                      Joseph Xavier Martin