419 scam: "WATSON GEORGE ASSOCIATE & LAW FIRM" <barrister.george007@gmail.com> HELLO

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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- barristerwatson55@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "WATSON GEORGE ASSOCIATE & LAW FIRM" <barrister.george007@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <barristerwatson55@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 27 Aug 2011 20:10:31 +0100
Subject: HELLO

WATSON GEORGE ASSOCIATES & LAW FIRM
Law Chamber Principal Attorney
Barrister & Solicitor
No. 190 Osu Rd,
Accra, Ghana.

Greetings,

I am (Barrister Watson George), a senior advocate and principal attorney to late (Engineer Moran) who worked as one of the managing directors with Ghana Gold Mining Industry, My client (Engineer Moran) died alongside with wife and children in a plane crash on Monday,1st June 2009 in France. For further confirmation visit: (http://www.airsafe.com/plane- crash/air-france-flight-447- airbus-a330-atlantic-ocean.htm ).

After his death,in 2010 the (ECOBANK GHANA LIMITED) where he had an account valued at $15Million contacted me as the principal attorney to the deceased for legal assistance in locating any of his relative / family.But all effort to locate them proved abortive.On enquire from his country embassy here in Ghana i got your email and since you bear the same last name with my late client,i hereby solicit for you assistance to stand as a foreign beneficiary/pattern to enable us retrieve the fund form the Bank before it can be confiscated in respect to banking regulations.

A 40% financial remuneration awaits you for your co-operation.As i wait for your response.

Lawful Regards
Barrister Watson George (ESQ).
Email barristerwatson55@yahoo.co.uk

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam