419 scam: Melissa Lewis <markusbala282@gmail.com> greetings

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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:
- ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
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.
- melew@pisem.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Melissa Lewis <markusbala282@gmail.com>
Reply-To: melew@pisem.net
Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2015 13:50:19 -0400
Subject: greetings

My Dear

With warm hearts I offer my friendship, and my greetings to you in the
name of our lord God, and I hope this letter meets you in good time, I
propose with my free mind and as a person of integrity from God, I
know that this message will appear as a surprise to you that we barely
know each other but the grace of God directed me to you and I wish you
read this message and be blessed in GOD's name.
I have a brain tumor, I suffer terribly at the moment. My doctor just
informed me that my days are numbered because of my health therefore
condemned to certain death. Presently, I have exhausted all my savings
for my medical care.
But I do have some funds for my charity project, these funds are
deposited in a fixed deposit in a local bank here in Benin. purposed
for charitable foundation
To this I would so graceful and in order to help the poor to give what
amounts to said legacy worth Eight million euros (â‚¬8,000,000.00)
(Eight Million Euro) to enable you to establish a charitable
foundation in my memory so that the grace of God be with me until my
last home so I can receive an honorable place with the Lord our GOD.
I have no fear because before contacted you, i have for several nights
prayed for the Lord God to give me the contact of a trusted person to
whom I can entrust this matter and it is the result of why I am doing
research that allowed me to contact you through this site.
Know that you can keep half of the money for yourself and the rest
will be used to create a charitable foundation in my memory and a
federation in the fight against cancer and also build orphanages. send
me your contact details and direct telephone number so I can forward
them to my lawyer to appear that you perform the procedure under deal.
I count on your goodwill and especially on the proper use of these
funds have something I do not doubt because I have great confidence in
you that God may guide me toward you. My private E-mail:
melew@pisem.net

Awaiting your prompt reply, receive my cordial and fraternal greetings.

Yours Sincerely
Mrs Mellisa Lewis

Anti-fraud resources:

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