Hilarious Scam Email Claims Nigerian Man Is Trapped In Space

You've probably seen them before - scam emails that claim a Nigerian Prince needs you to send him a few hundred dollars that will allow him to unlock millions that he will then send you a cut of, but this version is out of this world.

This latest scam is definitely a step up from the norm, as it claims a Nigerian astronaut who is the country's first spaceman was accidentally left aboard a Soviet space station when the Soviet Union dissolved in the early 1990's.

The astronaut needs you to help get him $3 million so he can order a return flight from the Russians, but don't worry he has accrued nearly $15 million since he has been 'trapped' in space.

The letter states the Soviet Union dissolved in 1990, but that actually happened in 1991.

The scam email wound up in the inbox of the UK website Anorak where it was promptly shared with the rest of the world.

Here is a sample of the scam letter:

“Dear Mr. Sir,

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE-STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

I am Dr. Bakare Tunde, the cousin of Nigerian Astronaut, Air Force Major Abacha Tunde. He was the first African in space when he made a secret flight to the Salyut 6 space station in 1979. He was on a later Soviet spaceflight, Soyuz T-16Z to the secret Soviet military space station Salyut 8T in 1989. He was stranded there in 1990 when the Soviet Union was dissolved. His other Soviet crew members returned to earth on the Soyuz T-16Z, but his place was taken up by return cargo. There have been occasional Progrez supply flights to keep him going since that time. He is in good humor, but wants to come home.

In the 14-years since he has been on the station, he has accumulated flight pay and interest amounting to almost $ 15,000,000 American Dollars. This is held in a trust at the Lagos National Savings and Trust Association. If we can obtain access to this money, we can place a down payment with the Russian Space Authorities for a Soyuz return flight to bring him back to Earth. I am told this will cost $ 3,000,000 American Dollars. In order to access the his trust fund we need your assistance."

Obviously this man needs help since he wasn't able to return to Earth on any of the 'supply flights.' It should be noted that there has never been a Nigerian person in space and the letter claims that he has been stranded for 14 years since 1990.....we'll let you do the math.

Good luck for now though rocket man,...er we mean Major Tunde.

You can read the entire letter on the Anorak website.