419 scam: "Mrs.Sara Faraj- A Thomas" <sarafth@kuwait.com> (In Trust And Good Faith)

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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:
- "trunk box" (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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "sarafaraj_4life71mas@admin.in.th" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Sara Faraj- A Thomas" <sarafth@kuwait.com>
Reply-To: sarafaraj_4life71@admin.in.th
Date: Sat, 13 Feb 2010 13:11:28 +0200
Subject: (In Trust And Good Faith)

My beloved, I am Mrs. Sara Faraj, I am 62 years old from Kuwait, I am
suffering from a long time cancer of the Lungs which also affected my hearing
ability and my brain, from all indication my conditions is really
deteriorating and it is quite obvious that, according to my doctors they have
advised me that I may not live too long, this is because the cancer has
gotten to a very bad stage. I was brought up from a motherless babies home,
was married to my late husband for twenty years without a child. My husband
died in a fatal motor accident. Since his death I decided not to re-marry, I
sold all my inherited belongings and deposited all the sum of Â£23M GBP and
Two Trunk Box (Family valuables/Personal Jewelries) with a Private Bank &
Securities. Presently, this money is still with them Presently, I'm with my
laptop in a hospital where I have been under going treatment for cancer of
the lungs. I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me
that I have months or year to live, but all depend on my ability to respond
to the new treatment that will be prescribed. My wish is for the money to be
distributed each year among the charity organization and the motherless
babies home where I come from I want a God fearing person, to also use this
money to fund foundation for children suffering from cancer, orphanages. I
took this decision, before I rest in peace because my time will soon be up. I
will require some of your details like your full Name/address, age, personal
email, occupation i no i cannot speak with you on phone but i will keep it
and introduce you to the Bank were i kept the funds, i will give you all the
documents, deposit secret Question/answer and my pictures as soon as you
agree to help me fulfil my wish and take care of those children
with illness and orphans.I await your speedy reply to my private
email:sarafaraj_4life71mas@admin.in.th
Kind regards, Mrs.Sara Faraj- A Thomas

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