419 scam: "Dr. Chen Xiaoxian" <ishooko@gmail.com> PLEASE CONTACT ME URGENTLY

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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
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.
- chendr39@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Chen Xiaoxian" <ishooko@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 22:32:27 +0100
Subject: PLEASE CONTACT ME URGENTLY

--
Chen Ben
Branch manager CITIC Bank
International Limited
CHINA CITIC BANK
Transfer of inheritance funds.
Do accept my sincere apology if my mail does not meet your personal ethics,
I am the Director of the above mentioned bank.
There
is an escrow account in my bank holding a balance of US$ 5 ,850.000.00
(Five Million Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars
)The depositor of these funds Mr.Kurt Kahle died in July, 2000 read
through the link below.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
Since
then nobody has come up for claims and we are not aware of any of Mr.
Kurt Kahles surviving family member. As a result I am asking for your
sincere co-operation to wire the money into a beneficiary's account
overseas, I do not want this money to go into the bank treasury as
unclaimed bill which forms my intention of writing to you, you will be
standing in legally as the next of kin/ beneficiary of these funds hence
we procure the necessary legal paperwork in your name to enable you
stand for the claim. The funds will be wired by Telegraphic Transfer to
your private bank account immediately we ratify the paperwork in your
name.
Considering
my position in the bank, this transaction is totally risk free as the
funds are legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundering,
terrorism or any other illegal act. Immediately I receive your
response, I will advise you subsequently for the immediate commencement
of the transfer of these funds to your bank account. On completion of
the transfer we will share 60-40
please contact me here on my email (chendr39@yahoo.com)
Best regards,
Chen Ben

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam