The newest mode of phishing frauds is an email from a sender posing as slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s wife. The email urges the recipient to help her get back huge investments Gaddafi made in financial companies in African countries.
The phishing mails are sent in bulk to thousands of random email addresses. “Earlier they used to lure people by saying that they had won a lottery or a distant relative had left behind a huge sum or property in another country. Now, they have started sending emails posing as Gaddafi’s wife,” said DCP Nisar Tamboli, Mumbai police PRO.
The fraudsters, however, have made a major factual error this time. While Gadaffi was killed in October last year, the email states otherwise. “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. Following the heat as a result of the crises in Libya against my husband, Col. Muommar Gaddafi, I have been able to escape to a Neighboring country, Tunisia with my daughter to save our lives. I am desperately looking for a foreign reliable partner whom I can trust to handle some funds on our behalf (sic),” the email reads.
The email further states, “A deposit was made one time ago by my husband in one of the financial Companies in Africa in my name. The UN and the Western world have free zed most of our assets and funds … hence I contacted you to claim the funds… But before we proceed you will promise me that you will not betray or abscond with the funds when it eventually released to you. (sic)”
The email also urges the recipient to keep the mail a secret. “I will furnish with more info as soon as I hear 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. (sic)”