419 scam: Christopher Newman <cn38605b@gmail.com> Can you be trusted??

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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "there are practically no risks involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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.
- cn38605b@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Christopher Newman <cn38605b@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2015 16:12:12 -0700
Subject: Can you be trusted??

Dear Sir,

I am constrianed to seek your collaboration in a private and confidential
matter regarding some funds in a dormant account in my bank here in
London, UK. You are hence being contacted to be legally nominated as next
of kin (inheritor) to a late client who did not nominate an inheritor
or next of kin to his account before his death.

However, this requires a private arrangement. Could you perhaps be able to
receive this fund under legal claims, then I will fill you in. I will
appreciate for fewer questions asked and your participation will be
30% of the total money. There are practically no risks involved as
long as you will remain honest to me and follow my instructions till
the end of this important business, trusting in you and believing that
you will never let me down either now or in future. The transaction
will be executed under a very legitimate arrangement that will protect
you from any breach of the law, it will be simply a bank-to-bank
transfer via an International Certified bank draft or Wire Transfer (Swift).

I have all the details and will fill you in if you are really
interested. Your major
role would be to stand as the beneficiary to this fund in our bank and
provide an account where the funds will be transferred.

All correspondence will be via email for now: cn38605b@gmail.com
but I will provide you with a telephone number to reach me as soon as
I comfirm your seriousness to execute this project with me.

The funds in question is quite large; Â£7,522,600 (Seven million,
Five Hundred and Twenty-two thousand, Six Hundred British Pounds) only.

My contact with you is firstly an act of God. Secondly, you have the
"express ticket" that is most valuable to the success of this pursuit
(your last name). Since you have a similar last name to late account
beneficiary, it will be most credible to establish you as the next of
kin/beneficiary. I took this decision basically because of this reason
and I hope it is going to open up a good business relationship that
will stand the test of time between you and I.

I will expect a straight answer from you. If yes, please get back to
me so that we can work out the modalities without further delay.

Thank you and God bless.

Best Regards
Chris Newman

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam