419 scam: "Mr. Frank Watson" <jgxaga8180@att.net> I NEED YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE!!!

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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Frank Watson" <jgxaga8180@att.net>
Reply-To: <mrfrankw2@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2011 14:07:43 -0800
Subject: I NEED YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE!!!

Greetings!!

Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics. May I introduce myself as Mr. Frank Watson, a

staff member in the accounts management section of our bank here in Spain? One of our accounts with holding balance of

€15,500,000.00 (Fifteen Million five Hundred Thousand Euro) has been dormant for so long. From my inquires and

confirmations, the owner of this account (Andreas Schranner) a REAL ESTATE BROKER who died along with his entire family on

31 July 2000 in a plane crash. You can verify the geniuses of the deceased by clicking on this web site

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

Since then nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money as he has no living family member who is aware of

the existence of either the account or the funds. I have confidentially discussed this issue with one of the top officials

in the bank and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to conclude this transaction.

We thus propose to do business with you and want you to stand as the next of kin of the deceased and have the funds

released to you after due processes have been followed.

This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is legitimate and does not originate from drug, money

laundry or any other illegal act.

If this meets your interest contact me today for further details.

Warmest Regards,

Mr. Frank Watson.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam