419 scam: "Mrs. Safia Farkash"<gzengineer@almalasers.com.cn> Re: Urgent Reply 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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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)
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.
- farkash000@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Safia Farkash" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <farkash000@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2011 02:01:40 +0100
Subject: Re: Urgent Reply needed

Attn: Dear Sir/Madam,
This may appear a bit surprising to you but very beneficial; as a matter of urgency, I am desperately looking for a foreign partner whom I can trust to handle some investment or fund movement for myself and my family. I am SAFIA FARKASH, wife of embattled Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who is presently been embattled by the unfaithful opposition leaders in my country.
For this reason Colonel has given directive to seek for trusted foreign partner who can help in securing some amount of money. He just made it know to me he deposited the sum of US$65M (Sixty five million United States Dollars) in my name at a reputable security company in a country I will disclose to you as we proceed. For I have already left Libya to one of the West African countries.
Consequently, our status/position of the present state of things does not permit me to open an account or run any huge financial business at the moment. That is why I want this fund’s records to be change to your full information that will enable you transferred it to any secured account in any of the countries in the world. Your assistance will enable us invest this money in your country or any where it will be safe and productive. But before we continue in this transaction, we would have to sign an AGREEMENT for our protection and rights. Also, I wish to inform you that this transaction is NOT A CHILD'S PLAY and it is 100% REAL AND RISK FREE and been assisted by an international business law firm.
Hence, if you agree to assist us, we will offer you 30% of the money for your assistance and any possible expenses incurred in the process of this transaction, while 70% will be for our family investment(s) in your country through your assistance. Please send your reply to my private farkash000@hotmail.com for further update. I need your urgent and confidential response.
Note: On your response and interest, you shall be enlighten and belief on the next step of action and please be inform that all the plans and contacts to make this a reality in a short period are all on ground.
You can as well read more about the crises in my country and about this situation on the following sites:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110404/ap_on_re_us/libya_diplomacy
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/142748/gaddafis-wealth-spread-across-globe.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110404/wl_nm/us_libya
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8459183/Britain-attempts-to-target-Mrs-Gaddafi-with-UN-sanctions.html

Waiting for your prompt and positive response
Thanks.
Safia Farkash

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