419 scam: "Abu Sesay"<abuabu@xemail.de> cry for help

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- ",500,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Abu Sesay" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sesay54@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:29:44 +0200
Subject: cry for help

Dear friend,

Through the courtesy of business opportunity, I take liberty anchored on a strong desire to solicit your assistance on this mutually beneficial and risk free transaction which I hope you will give your urgent attention. I am Mr. Abu Sesay. I am moved to write you this letter; this was in confidence considering our present circumstance and situation.I escaped with my wife and children out of Sierra Leone to Belgium where we are presently residing on temporary political asylum.

However due to this situation I decided to change most of my billions of dollars deposited in Swiss bank and other countries into other forms of money coded for safe purpose because the new head of states Ernest Bai Koroma made arrangements with the Swiss government and other European countries to freeze all my treasures deposited in some European countries, hence I and my wife along with my children, decided laying low in Belgium to study the situation till when things gets better, since president Ernest Bai Koroma taking over government again in Sierra Leone one of my chateaux in southern France was confiscated by the French government, and as such we had to change our identity so that our investment will not be traced and confiscated.

I have deposited the sum of thirty million, five hundred thousand United States dollars (US$30,500,000) with a security company for safekeeping. The funds are security coded to prevent them from knowing the actual contents. What I want you to do now is to indicate your interest that you will assist me and my immediate family by receiving the money on our behalf.

The account required for this project can either be personal, company or an offshore account that you have total control over, your area of specialisation will not be a hindrance to the successful execution of this transaction.

Acknowledge this message, so that I can introduce you to my family as our foreign trusted partner who shall take charge of our investment abroad where we now plan to settle.

I want you to assist us in investing this money, but I will not want our identity revealed. I will also want to buy properties and stocks in multi-national companies and to engage in other safe and non speculative investments.

We have been through a lot of health and spiritual turmoil hence will need your understanding and assistance. May I at this point emphasize the high level of confidentiality which this business demands and hope you will not betray the trust and confidence which we repose in you. I shall put you in the picture of this business, that is, tell you where the funds are currently being maintained and also discuss other modalities including remuneration for your services. I shall inform you with the next line of action as soon as I receive your positive response.

Is this proposition attainable? If it is, please kindly furnish me immediately by e-mail with your direct telephone and fax numbers to enhance the confidentiality which this business demands.

Best regards
Mr. Abu Sesay

Anti-fraud resources:

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