419 scam: "Chen Tan"<chentanmail@yahoo.com> I am Chen Tan

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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:
- "utmost confidentiality" (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 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.
- chentanmails@yahoo.com.ph (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Chen Tan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <chentanmails@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 03:30:00 -0700
Subject: I am Chen Tan

I am Chen Tan,an employee of one of the top financial institutions here in Singapore.I want to use this opportunity to offer you a business
undertaking with a very high monetary gain and value, mutually beneficial to both parties if you are interested.

Please allow me give you a brief picture of what i have in mind.In my position as safe deposit manager at my bank, I have become privy to a lot
of unclaimed deposits and accounts and I have particularly monitored one of such accounts and can comfortably state that the account is there for
us to convert to our personal usage, hence my email to you.

This is a very straight forward transaction and I would say the funds are at my disposal right now,if and only if you can pledge your concrete
commitment to assist me convert this funds to our personal usage immediately,all I need from you is to stand as the original depositor and
follow my instructions.

Please get this very clear, nobody knows about the existence of this money and if anything happens to me today the funds will revert to my Bank's or
Singapore Government coffers, this is why we need to act now.

Please understand I am ready to share this money with you for your assistance, I do know that I have not given you a clear picture and amount
involved, but when I get your reply I will be more revealing.

Your immediate response will be appreciated.Kindly reply to my private email for utmost confidentiality: chentanmails@yahoo.com.ph

Best Regards,

Chen Tan.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam