419 scam: "Mr Tai Lin"<stroud8@wanadoo.co.uk> LET ME KNOW

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:

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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- ",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)
- "keep this 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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- mrtailin544@yahoo.com.cn (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Tai Lin" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrtailin544@yahoo.com.cn>
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 04:03:25 -0700
Subject: LET ME KNOW

Dear Friend,

I am Mr Tai Lin ,branch manager in one of the leading banks here in shanghai china. I respectfully seek your sincere conscent in this profitable proposal that i will explain to you.Six(6) years ago, precisely on tuesday Nov 6, 2004,a british oil consultant/contractor with the chinese mineral cooperation, deposited a numbered sum of Thirty million united states dollars(30,000,000 USD) in my branch valid for twelve calender months.

On maturity, notification was sent to him umpteently but no response was forth coming. Thorough investigations were made and it was revealed by his contract employees; that the chinese solid mineral cooperation that he died from an unfortunate mishap.All paper works in my bank revealed that he did not declare any next of kin or relations.No one will ever come for this money.The law in place here in the republic of China stipulates that after six(6) years such monies are reverted to the chinese government.I want the money moved out of my bank as soon as possible before this long standing banking law is implemented and the money getting to top corrupt chinese government officials.

Consequently, my demand from you is your conscent to stand as the next of kin to this late man's funds which I have total control over; be urgently transferred to any account provided by you in any part of the world.This transfer will go through several legal stages that will undoubtdly put you in place as the next of kin and eliminate any form of risk. A hired attorney will prepare the necessary documents that will legalize the procedures leading to the final transfer of the funds.My position here will speed up the legal procedures.

Upon successful transfer into the account, we will share the money in the ratio 80% for me and 20% for you.For futher correspondences with you,I will like
you would provide to me:

Your Names in Full:
Age:
Occupation:
Your Permanent Home Address:
confidential Tel and Fax no:

Please keep this confidential and lets do our best to see the end of this rewarding proposal.I will like to build a high level of trust with you and would require your assistance in investing my share in your country.

ATTN:please Reply me via my office box:mrtailin544@yahoo.com.cn,for personal/security reasons.

I urgently await your conscent.

Thanks and regards.
Mr. Tai Lin

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam