419 scam: Thomas Watson <colfelixwright@gmail.com> Re/.....My MAIL......../PLEASE.......REPLY.

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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:
- "million british pounds" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +447045780702 (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.
- t.wastson096@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Thomas Watson <colfelixwright@gmail.com>
Reply-To: t.wastson096@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2014 02:32:04 -0800
Subject: Re/.....My MAIL......../PLEASE.......REPLY.

--
Barclays Bank PLC.
1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP.UK

Hello.

Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal
ethics. I will introduce myself as Thomas Watson, Chief Auditor in the
accounts management section of the above Bank here in the United
Kingdom. One of our accounts with holding balance of £15,000,000
(Fifteen Million British Pounds) has been dormant and has not been
operated for the past four (4) years.

>From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account, a
foreigner by name Kurt Kahle died in July,
2000 see this (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm)
with his wife and only Son and since then nobody
has done anything as regards the claiming of this money because he has
no family members who are aware of the
existence of neither the account nor the funds.

I have secretly discussed this matter with a senior Staff of our bank
and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign
partner to deal with. We thus propose to do business with you,
standing in as the next of kin of these funds from the
deceased and funds released to you after due processes have been
followed. This transaction is totally free of risk and as the fund is
legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism
or any other illegal act. On receipt of your
response I will furnish you with detailed clarification as it relates
to this mutual benefit transaction.

I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible if you
are interested.[t.wastson096@gmail.com]

Thomas Watson,
Chief Auditor
Barclays Bank PLC.
+447045780702

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam