419 scam: "Eskom" <Eskom@suncor.com> Re: Assistance Needed

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "utmost confidentiality" (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.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- jerrysongconsultant0101@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Eskom" <Eskom@suncor.com>
Reply-To: jerrysong001100@gmail.com
Date: 26 Oct 2023 03:12:51 +0200
Subject: Re: Assistance Needed

Hello Sir/Madam,

I only got your contact details from the South Africa Exchange
Information On-line Service on my personal programmed search on
the internet for a reputable company or individual to assist me
sincerely & confident that your information & profiles were very
satisfactory, so I decided to contact you immediately.

It is my great pleasure to write you this letter. Within Eskom
Holdings Limited where I work as one of the Directors of Audit
and Project Implementation, I have in my possession an overdue
payment in US funds.

The said funds represent a certain percentage of the total
contract value executed on behalf of my Department by a foreign
contracting firm, which I the official over-invoiced to the
amount of US$45,000, 000.00 (Forty Five Million United States
Dollar). Though the actual contract cost has been paid to the
original contractor leaving the excess balance unclaimed. Since
the present elected Government is determined to pay foreign
contractors all debts owed, so as to maintain good relationships
with foreign governments and non-government agencies, I included
the bills for approvals with the Department of Finance and the
South Africa Reserve Bank (SARB).

I am seeking your assistance to front as beneficiary of the
unclaimed funds, since I am not allowed to operate foreign
accounts, Details and change of beneficiary information upon
application for claim to reflect payment and approvals will be
secured on behalf of you/your Company. I have to propose that
should you be willing to assist me in this transaction your share
as compensation will be (35%), and the balance of (65%) will be
for me. The business is completely safe and secure, provided you
treat it with Utmost confidentiality. It does not matter whether
you/your Company does contract projects, as a transfer of powers
will be secured in favor of you/your Company. Also, your area of
specialization is not a hindrance to the successful execution of
this transaction.

I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not
disappoint me.

For more informationâ€™s kindly direct email reply to my consultant
Mr. Jerry Song (jerrysongconsultant0101@gmail.com)

Thanks for your cooperation.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam