419 scam: "Mrs. Mellisa Lewis"<mail.@atacadomendonca.com.br> From Mellisa Lewis.

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- barrdavidwilli01@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Mellisa Lewis" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsmellisa01@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2011 17:26:47 +0800
Subject: From Mellisa Lewis.

My name is Mrs. Mellisa Lewis, I am 59 years old and I was diagnosed for
cancer for about 2 years ago. I have being lying critically ill at the
hospital since November 12th, 2009

when I was recently diagnosed with Hypoglycemia. I decided to WILL/donate the
sum of (Fourteen Millions Two Hundred Fifty Eight Thousand United States
Dollars).

I know for sure you will be surprised if such things still happens, believe
me the doctor says my chance of survival is based on 70/30. I am not in the
position disburse these funds myself as a result of my health. I decided to
will it to you so you can help me disburse the funds to some charity
organization in your country. Am helping you, so you can develop the time to
disburse these funds on my behalf.

Arrangements have been made with my attorney on how these funds should be
transferred to your account from my bank in London. The necessary documents
have been signed and ascertained. I am in an Intensive ward where I do not
have access to receive calls as a result of my health condition.

I have no family but relatives who has embezzled my hard earned money years
ago; I really don’t think they would have pity on me despite my condition by
fulfilling my wish to help the charity with these funds.

You are to work with my attorney who will assist in these funds transfer to
your account. I paid for the State tax on the day of deposit with the Bank.
Contact my lawyer with this info: McDavid & Associates, Name: Barrister.
David Williams Email : (barrdavidwilli01@hotmail.com) .Tell him that i have
willed this money to you.

If you find this mail appealing, kindly contact my attorney by quoting this
reference number to him (JJ/MMS/953/5015/GwrI/316us/uk). I write this mail to
you solemnly with the faith that you will assist me in my last wish.

Meanwhile you are advised to keep this mail and it contents confidential as i
really want my wish accomplish at the end of the day without any of my
relatives knowing about these funds, Please do remember me in your prayers as
I give you the assurance that this is legal.

God Bless

Regards,
Mrs. Mellisa Lewis

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam