419 scam: "Mel Zama"<dong@vx-technocom.ru> ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT

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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:
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
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.
- melzama151@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mel Zama"<dong@vx-technocom.ru>
Reply-To: melzama151@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 13:53:01 +0200
Subject: ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT

Mutual Confidential Business Relationship I have packaged a financial trans=
action that will benefit you and me mutually. I want you to stand in as the=
beneficiary of =A37,680.000 (Seven million six hundred and eighty thousand=
GBP) payable as the referrer commission under non-disclosure banking Act. =
Our bank agent who fronts for Some Top Head of Governments is late; Mr. Nun=
a Dudley 62 years of age, who died on (Egyptian charter plane Boeing 737.Wh=
ich crashed into the Red Sea, killing all the 135 passengers and 13 Crew me=
mbers aboard, Which my office are not aware of and will never be aware of i=
t. Ref:(View:http://english.people.com.cn/200401/04/eng20040104_131791.shtm=
l) As an officer of this bank, I cannot be directly connected to this money=
, so my aim of contacting you is to assist me receive this money into your =
facility as an associate to the deceased and get 40% of the total funds as =
a front. If you are interested in this deal, send the below information: 1,=
your full name and house address. 2, your age and occupation. 3, your dire=
ct telephone and fax number. 4, your international passport or driver=92s l=
icense. If you agree to my business proposal, further details of the transf=
er will be forwarded to you as soon as I receive your return mail. Yours Si=
ncerely, Mrs. Mel Zama melzama151@gmail.com=20

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam