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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:
- 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:
- "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)
- 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.
- u.s.army.capt.jeffwhitten212@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "U.S Army Jeffrey Whitten" <us.army.col.jeffrey.hall@gmail.com>
Reply-To: u.s.army.capt.jeffwhitten212@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2021 08:40:03 +0100
Subject: PLEASE TREAT AS CONFIDENTIAL.
Good day to you!
I am sorry to encroach into your privacy in this manner. I only pray
that at this time your address will still be valid. I want to solicit
your attention to receive money on my behalf. I found it pleasurable
to offer you my partnership in business.
My name is Capt. Jeffrey Whitten, I am an officer in the US army. I
served with the 82nd airborne division peacekeeping force in Baghdad
Iraq. I really need your help in assisting me with the safe keeping of
two military trunk boxes.
I hope you can be trusted? You will be rewarded handsomely if you
could help me secure the funds until I conclude my service here. If
you can be trusted, I will explain further when I get a response from
you. Please ensure to reply via my private-mail address.[
u.s.army.capt.jeffwhitten212@gmail.com ]
Best regards
Capt. Jeff Whitten
US Army
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Anti-fraud resources:
