419 scam: "Sofia Gadafi" <inf@live.com> Can i trust you?

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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:
- "can i trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
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.
- sofiaandfamily@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Sofia Gadafi" <inf@live.com>
Reply-To: sofiaandfamily@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2011 19:02:25 +0800 (CST)
Subject: Can i trust you?

Dear freind,
Can i trust you? I got your email contact when i was searching the
internet. My name is Sofia Gaddafi, Wife of Moammar Gaddafi, the
embattled president of

libya. The Rebels wants me and my family death, i and my children have
escape from libya to seek political asylum in one of the neighbouring
country Algeria.

view website
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/10195563/video/86368431-gaddafi-s-family-flees-to-algeria
.The interin government and the rebels in

libya have started to trace and seized all our family investments, and
money owns by Gadhafi's family. I have an urgent family business i want
you to handle

for me, I have $20m U.S Dollars in libya which i deposited with a private
finance company in a box tag as family valuable for safe keeping, i want
you to

invest this money for me for future purposes. If you accept my proposal
please contact me quickly to enable give authorisation to the finance
company to make

shipment to you.
For your information We can not discuse this project over the telephone
for security reasons, please contact me by my private email:

sofiaandfamily@yahoo.co.jp and send me your NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE.

Am waiting for quick reply,
ALLAH BE WITH YOU.
Sofia Gaddafi,

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam