419 scam: "Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend."<sales@rphcc.com> Hello Kindly reply as soon as possible.

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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.
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.
- stephtown2020@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stephentown2020@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2018 13:55:56 -0800
Subject: Hello Kindly reply as soon as possible.

Hello There.

My name is Stephen Townsend (Lieutenant General, U.S Army). I have been in all activities involving the U.S military in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.. Presently I'm in Aleppo Syria on an Inspection Mission. I was

gifted with some cash and gold bars after saving the life of a wealthy Sheikh at the sub-station where I am deployed in Africa.

I do not want other officers to know about this so they won't take as I can't put up with their greed. I rather send it to someone i don't know on a mutual agreement than let them seize and keep it for themselves and leave me with

nothing.

We shall discuss about investing the fund, probably in your area of business or something lucrative either home or abroad. But you must keep this correspondence to yourself because of my position and the nature of my job. Kindly indicate your interest in assisting me in this venture. I will send you more details on how we proceed.

Kindly reply as soon as possible.

Kindest Regards.

Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend.

Tel: +19176249949

stephtown2020@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam