419 scam: Sonya <sonya-son

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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: Sonya <sonya-son_s@att.net>
Reply-To: <sonyas646@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2010 06:37:32 +0400
Subject: Hello

Good Day to you,

I am Mr.Sonya Santolin,Chief Operating Officer with (ADCB) Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank U. A. E. This letter must come to you as a big surprise, but only a day people meet and become friends and business partners.

An Iraqi Foreign Oil consultant/contractor Mr.Abdul-khaliq hussain made a fixed deposit with our bank in 2007, valued at US$27.500,000.00.million.

He was among the dead vitctims of ethiopian airlines jet(409) crashes into sea off beirut,into the mediterranean sea shortly after take-off from beirut airport. on jan 25, 2010.

Mr.Abdul-khaliq hussain did not mention any Next of Kin/Heir when the account was opened, and am his account officer, right now our bank did not know about Mr.Abdul-khaliq hussain death, and if they happen to know my Bank Directors will take the funds for their personal use.

I am now seeking your co-operation to present you as Next of Kin to the account and my bank headquarters will release the account to you under a legitimate arrangement. so I am suggesting we share the fund, 25% for you while 75% of the fund will remain for me after successful transfer of the fund to your position until I join you there.

Let me know your mind on this and please do treat this information as very confidential.

upon the receipt of your acceptance mail , I will like you to provide me with the following details;

(1) your direct mobile/fax number.

(2) Your name and country resident address.

(3) Your private E-mail box.

Then I shall furnish you with due process of concluding this transaction

without any delay.

Regards

Mr.Sonya Santolin

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam