419 scam: "Anthony Watson" <project016@btinternet.com> Mail From Anthony Watson/Respond Urgently

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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:
- "search for a reliable person" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447045731403 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +447035731403 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- mrawatson4@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Anthony Watson" <project016@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: <project001@w.cn>
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 07:12:39 -0400
Subject: Mail From Anthony Watson/Respond Urgently

FROM: Anthony Watson,
Lloyds Banking Group Plc
25 Gresham Street London
EC2V 7HN, United Kingdom.

PHONE# +44-703-573-1403

Compliments of the day,

Permit me to introduce myself to you. My name is Anthony Watson, Auditor and Accountant of the above Finance Corporation in London, United Kingdom. I came to know about you in my private search for a reliable person/company to handle an important assignment on behalf of myself.

PROPOSITION: A German Andreas Dieter Karl, German property magnate had in our Bank the sum of £30,758,000 (Thirty Million Seven Hundred and Fifty Eight Thousand British Pounds Sterling) in a domiciliary account. Unfortunately, he was killed in a auto crash accident in Paris. Efforts had been made by the management of my bank through the German Embassy to contact any of the deceased next of Kin but to no avail. We later discovered that
he died with all his Family in the crash. Given the skeletal information available to the bank, it has so far been impossible to reach any of the relatives. The situation left for the Management is to declare the deceased account dormant and revert the funds to trading for interest to the Bank. In order to avoid this development, I now seek your approval to have you stand as a distant relative to Andreas Dieter Karl, so that the money would be released and transfer to you.

All documents and proofs to enable you get the money will be carefully packaged once I receive your consent on this proposal. I shall apply for a leave as soon as the funds get into your reliable account to come to your country for sharing and investments which you will assist me in doing. May I assure you that this is safe and risk-free, as I have taken care of all necessary modalities to ensure a hitch-free movement. Thank You for taking out the time in reviewing this request, as I will stand by the strength of your response, and look forward to speaking with you soon. I may be reached directly at +44-703-573-1403.

I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint me.

Best Regards,
Anthony Watson
Auditor and Accountant
Lloyds Banking Group Plc
Email: mrawatson4@gmail.com
Tel: +44 704 573 1403

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam