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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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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:
- 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:
- "i want to solicit your attention" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "chambers" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Capt.Anthony Resley" <resley1414@outlook.com>
Reply-To: capt.anthonyresley@outlook.com
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 02:56:58 -0700
Subject: CAN YOU BE =?UTF-8?Q?TRUSTED=3F?=
--
Greetings
I am sorry to encroach into your privacy in this manner, I found you
listed in the Trade Center Chambers of Commerce directory here in Iraq,I
find it pleasurable to offer you my partnership in business. I only pray
at this time that your address is still valid. I want to solicit your
attention to receive money on my behalf.
I am Capt. Anthony Resley, an officer in the US Army, and also a West
Point Graduate presently serving in the Military with the 82nd Air Borne
Division Peace keeping force in Baghdad, Iraq. I am on the move to
Afghanistan from Iraq as the last batch just left, and I really need
your help in assisting me with the safe keeping of two military trunk
boxes containing $85 million which has already be ship to USA from Iraq.
I hope you can be trusted? Kindly view this news blog below for some
info.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7444083.stm
If you can be trusted i will explain further when I get a response from
you. Waiting for your early reply.
Best regards.
Capt. Anthony Resley.
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Anti-fraud resources:
