Dear Friend, This mail may not be surprising to you…

The perpetrators of Advance Fee Fraud (AFF), known internationally as “4-1-9” fraud after the section of the Nigerian penal code which addresses fraud schemes, are often very creative and innovative. The following e-mail is a genuine 419 scam letter, puporting to be from Suha Arafat, published by www.theregister.co.uk and reprinted here with permission.
From: SUHA ARAFAT [mailto:suhafat@netscape.net]
Sent: Sunday, November 14, 2004 5:00 AM
To: ----- Subject: I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE; SUHA ARAFAT
Importance: High

Dear Friend,

This mail may not be surprising to you if you have been
following current events in the international media with
reference to the Middle East and Palestine in particular.

I am Mrs. SUHA ARAFAT, the wife of YASSER ARAFAT, the
Palestinian leader who died recently in Paris. Since his
death and even prior to the announcement, I have been
thrown into a state of antagonism, confusion, humiliation,
frustration and hopelessness by the present leadership of
the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the new Prime
Minister. I have even been subjected to physical and
psychological torture. As a widow that is so traumatized,
I have lost confidence with everybody in the country at
the moment.

You must have heard over the media reports and the
Internet on the discovery of some fund in my husband
secret bank account and companies and the allegations of
some huge sums of money deposited by my husband in my name
of which I have refuses to disclose or give up to the
corrupt Palestine Government. In fact the total sum
allegedly discovered by the Government so far is in the
tune of about $6.5 Billion Dollars. And they are not
relenting on their effort to make me poor for life. As you
know, the Moslem community has no regards for woman, hence
my desire for a foreign assistance.

I have deposited the sum of 20 million dollars with a
security firm abroad whose name is withheld for now until
we open communication. I shall be grateful if you could
receive this fund into your bank account for safe keeping
and any Investment opportunity. This arrangement is known
to you and my personal Attorney. He might be dealing with
you directly for security reasons as the case may be.

In view of the above, if you are willing to assist for our
mutual benefits, we will have to negotiate on your
Percentage share of the $20,000,000 that will be kept in
your position for a while and invested in your name for my
trust pending when my Daughter, Zahwa, will come off age
and take full responsibility of her Family
Estate/inheritance.

Please note that this is a golden opportunity that comes
once in life time and more so, if you are hornet, I am
going to entrust more funds in your care as this is one of
the legacy we keep for our children.

In case you don't accept please do not let me out to the
security and international media as I am giving you this
information in total trust and confidence I will greatly
appreciate if you accept my proposal in good faith. Please
expedite action.

Yours sincerely,

Suha Arafat