Is this an honest offer?

[wahchintonka48]

A man from the United Arab Emirates sent me this email, giving me an offer to help distribute 15% of his 14 million dollars to various charitable organizations. I was wondering if anyone could help me identify the integrity of this message.

"Dear,
As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe everyone will die someday.
My name is Peter Van Edgar, a merchant in Dubai, in the U.A.E.I have been diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer which was discovered very late, due to my laxity in carrying for my health. It has defiled all forms of medicine, and right now I have only about a few months to live, according to medical experts.
I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really care for anyone not even myself but my business. Though I am very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to people and only focus on my business as that was the only thing I care for. But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world.
I believe when God gives me a second chance to come to this world I would live my life a different way from how I have lived it.Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my properties and assets to my immediate and extended family members and as well as a few close friends. I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul and so, I have decided to give arms to charity organizations and give succour and comfort to the less priviledged in our societies, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth.
So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in the U.A.E, Algeria and Malaysia. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this my self anymore. I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity organization and to the less priviledged in Bulgaria and Pakistan, they refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have left for them.
The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of fourteen million dollars($14m) that I have with a Bank in europe for safe keeping. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and disburse it to some charity organizations and to the less priviledged.
N/B:Kindly note that 35% of this funds must go to victims of Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina , Hurricane Wilma and South Asia Earthquake ,50% to other Charity Organizations around the World and 15% for your effort and time.
I cannot talk with you on the phone due to my health situation, as I am using my Lap Top Computer to communicate with you. You should respond to this e-mail [email protected] if you are interested in carrying out this assignment on my behalf.
Please send me a mail to indicate if you will assist me in this disbursement E-mail [email protected]
I await to hear from you, may God be with you and your entire family.
Remain Blessed,
Peter Van Edgar."

[orlondo100]

Random offers from strangers are ALWAYS scams.

Protect yourself:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance-fee_fraud
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confidence_trick

[gwen]

Scam

[raleah]

No, it could be a 419 scam - preying on people's greed / guilt unfortunately.

Just do a search for Peter Van Edgar - you will see a lot of people getting that same email.

[dallen47]

It's a scam. And he's not "a man from the United Arab Emirates".

First, "Peter Van Edgar" would not be the name of a man from the United Arab Emirates, or any other predominantly Arab country. "Peter" was the name of a Christian saint; "Van Edgar" is a surname of German origin.

Second, a person from the United Arab Emirates, or any other predominantly Arab country would probably be saying "Allah", not "God".

The final clue is the pattern of incorrect English (giving "arms" instead of "alms", spelling "myself" as two words, capitalizing "laptop", etc.) is more consistent with an African writer than with the UAE.

It's a scam. Not a particularly good one.

And the man is probably from West Africa, most likely Nigeria, possibly Ghana.