419 scam: Mrs Alice Lewis <mrsalicelewis421@msn.com> Hello.

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:

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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "is highly confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Alice Lewis <mrsalicelewis421@msn.com>
Reply-To: <mrsalice.lewis@googlemail.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:58:56 +0000
Subject: Hello.

Hello;
I am Mrs. Alice Lewis by name, a British citizen; I am working in the Lloyds TSB Bank of England as an officer that is in-charge of clients with package and courier services. After going through your profile and doing a little research, I have seen that you seem like an honest and trustworthy person who can handle confidential business.
What I am about to disclose to you is highly confidential and I believe that you will keep my confidence. A sum of US$8,600 000.00 was moved from my bank to a certain client through a courier services company. After two weeks the package containing the money was returned to me, reason being the recipient did not turn up to receive or claim it. I deposited the package containing the money with a security Company here in England.
The reason of contacting you is; I have decided to quite my job and resettle in any other country and now want the money to be moved to your country, where you will receive it and keep it safe for me until I come over to meet with you there. What I need is someone trustworthy to receive the money for me and I think you might fit that profile.
I have made all the arrangements and plans to enable me to move the money to any country of my choice without hindrance. For your assistance and help in receiving the money, you will benefit a reasonable part of the total money.
Reply this message as soon as you read it to let me know your mind on this proposal. If I am convinced that you are totally willing to cooperate with me on this assignment; I will give you my full contact details in England and I would appreciate it

very much if you give me yours including your private phone number.

Regards,
Mrs. Alice Lewis.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam