419 scam: "mrs_safia_gaddafi@yahoo.com.ph" <officefile45@googlemail.com> Dear Sir / Madam

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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:
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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)
- "reward you with 30%" (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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "mrs_safia_gaddafi@yahoo.com.ph" <officefile45@googlemail.com>
Reply-To: mrs_safia_gaddafi@yahoo.com.ph
Date: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 11:37:06 +0100
Subject: Dear Sir / Madam

Dear Sir / Madam

Greetings in the name of Allah,

I am the wife of the late Libyan President Gaddafi who was killed by rebels
on Thursday 20th Oct 2011, please my life is in big danger and I would like
to use you as my contact to move a huge sum of money and start living a
free life in your country.

I am taking refuge in United Arab Emirates (Dubai) but formally i was in
Algeria but we left there out of fear that we are not safe because the
Rebels can trace to any Northern part of Africa. My three children and i
can't go back to Libya otherwise we will be killed.

We are afraid that our life could be in danger in Libya and for reasons
which i believe you know, we can not live in United Arab Emirates (Dubai).
The death of my husband was a broad day murder by the Libyan rebels. He was
captured and killed not by stray bullet as the world was made to believe,
it was a bad experience and a difficult in time for us. I want to relocate
to your country because United Arab Emirates (Dubai) is not a safe place
for me to start up a new life.

I have some money, Twenty One Million United States Dollars
($21,000,000.00) in my possession which i will like to invest in any
profitable business in your country. I want you to guard me through the
business i will invest in. I will reward you with 30% percent of the total
money. I will furnish you with more info as soon as I read your response
indicating your interest to partner with me.

At present I don't receive or make calls for security reason (s) as it is
being monitored by United Arab Emirates (Dubai) authority and i don't want
anybody to know that i am here until i leave this country. All
communication will be through email message for security reasons.

I look forward to your prompt and positive response. Please if you are not
interested, kindly delete and do not spread this message for the safety of
my family life.

Thank you,

Mrs. Safia Farkash Gaddafi

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam