419 scam: "Richard Watson (External Auditor)"<test@test.com> THANKS FOR YOUR POSITIVE CONSIDERATION

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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:

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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
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.
- richardw.watson@hotmail.co.uk (Hotmail, United Kingdom; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Richard Watson (External Auditor)"<test@test.com>
Reply-To: <richardw.watson@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 17:50:09 +0100
Subject: THANKS FOR YOUR POSITIVE CONSIDERATION

>From the Desk of : Mr. Richard Watson
Contact Email : richardw.watson@hotmail.co.uk
Date: 03-08-10

Dear,

I am Mr Richard Watson, a Chartered Management Accountant and an External Auditor that is retained by the Credit Suisse Private Bank to audit its activities in the entire British Isles. I was intimated of your business pedigree by a colleague who had worked with your country Chamber of Commerce.

In the course of routine audit of the Bank’s Accounts last year, I discovered that an investment account with a balance of US$7.9 Million (Seven Million Nine Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) had been dormant for over Four Years. Further investigations of the said account reveal that the investor;an American, died in a Plane Crash alongside his entire family while on holiday in Greece. Details of this Incidence could be found on the following website:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4150312.stm.

The said investor died intestate and as such, no next-of-kin to has come forward all these years to lay claim to the investment. In line with extant regulations of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in the United Kingdom, I have to inform the Management of the Bank about the existence of dormant account of this nature. Statutorily, account of this nature is regarded as dormant if they are not operated for a period of Four years. The investment account in this instance has been dormant for over 4 years.Against the backdrop of the foregoing, I wish to inform you of the existence of the said dormant account since you and the late beneficiary bear the same last name.

I am of the opinion that using my insider leverage, together with yourself, can secure the funds in this Bank account for ourselves instead of allowing it transmit as “unclaimed funds” into the Treasury of the Government of the United Kingdom. Our bilateral cooperation in this regard would entail you contacting the Bank and applying as the only surviving relative of the deceased investor.

Note that Legal documents to support the claims will be made available to you. Once we get this deposit in the Bank transferred to your name as Next-of Kin, I shall use my banking expertise to supervise the transfer of the funds in this account to an account to be nominated by you as sole beneficiary to the estate. You shall be adequately compensated for your part in this transaction as I have resolved to give you a 35% share of the total funds for your collaborative efforts.

I have worked out the modalities whereby the funds will be transferred to your account without hitches. I am counting on your sense of confidentiality, as it is my desire that you keep this business to yourself .Please contact me at my private email:

Regards,

Mr. Richard Watson.

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