Description
This email scam appears to be closely related to the commonly encountered Nigerian letter scam.
Sophos recommends recipients do not reply to the email in any way.
There are many different versions of this scam, a typical one is shown
below:
CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS NEGOTIATION.
DEAREST ONE,
Greetings to you.
I got your contact through an international promotion
board in the internet in my search for some one to do
business with. I am PRINCE DAVID SOLOMON a citizen
of the Republic of Sierra-Leone in West Africa.
My father KING EGOBIA SOLOMON, was the director of
Sierra-Leone Gold and Diamond Corporation and also the
KING of my village. There was a gold and diamond
mining company located in my village which was
controlled by AMERICAN business men. During the recent
outbreak of war in my country, my father was killed by
rebels that are loyal to Fondey Sankoh when they
wanted to loot the corporation strong room. All the
security men and key officials who resisted their
advancement were killed and large amount of precious
stones taken away.
After the death of my father, I was instructed by my
village chiefs and family elders to give account of my
father's administration as the first son and PRINCE
according to our tradition. As I was arranging things
in my late father's bed room, I came across some
documents and personal letter hidden in a constructed
secret safe under his bed. Those documents are about a
trunk box containing the sum of US$4.5 million which
he deposited in a private security company as family
valuables at ABIDJAN COTE' D IVOIRE. According to the
content of the letter, the security company does not
know that the box contains money. This recalled my
memory. At several occasions, I will come back from
school and met my father with some white men
discussing in low tone. After their departure, I will
ask him , who are those men? And he will answer me,
they are Americans that just came into town. While I
was still at my country , I contacted the security
company about this and they confirmed existence of
such box.
Right now ,I have left my country due to renewed
outbreak of war and the constant attack of rebels to
my kingdom. My mother who is a Togolese has returned
to Togo with my younger brothers and sisters. I'm
sending you this message from Abidjan to solicit for
your assistance to help me start a new life. I'm
inexperience when it comes to international investment
or transferring such fund abroad . I'm just an
undergraduate of mechanical engineering . I still want
to further my education. If you can help me to move
this fund to your country, for meaningful investment.
You stand to reap 15% of the total fund for your
assistance alone. You are also to manage the remaining
85% for our mutual interest.
Your urgent reply indicating your interest will help
me to stop further search for help. Moreover, remember
to keep this as confidential issue between us due to
the popularity of my father. Awaiting your
correspondence. Please you can be much faster because
of the resent problem here in Abidjan for the
successful conclution of this transaction please.
Yours sincerely,
PRINCE DAVID SOLOMON
for the family