419 scam: "Williams Amani." <amaniwilliams14@yahoo.co.uk> From Williams Amani

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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:
- "dearest one," (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 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.
- amani.w101@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Williams Amani." <amaniwilliams14@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: amani.w101@hotmail.fr
Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 03:17:51 +0200
Subject: From Williams Amani

rom Williams Amani.

Dearest One,

It is indeed my pleasure to write you this letter, which I believe will be
a surprise to you as we have never met before, and I am deeply sorry if I
have in any manner disturbed your privacy. Please forgive this unusual
manner to contact you, but this particular letter is of exceptional and
very private nature. There is absolutely going to be a great doubt and
distrust in your mind in respect of this email, coupled with the fact that,
so many individuals have taken possession of the Internet to facilitate
their deeds but there is no way for me to know whether I will be properly
understood, but it is my duty to
write and reach out to you.

I am Williams Amani from Sierra Leone, I am writing you from Rep of Cote
'Ivoire where I have been taking refuge after the brutal war and murder of
my parents by the rebels during the renewed fighting in my country. Because
of the war my late Father sold his shipping company and took me to a nearby
country Cote d'Ivoire where he deposited US$18, 300, 000.00 Million in his
foreign account with one of the bank here in Cote d'Ivoire.

I prayed over this issue before contacting you and due to the courrent
political crisis in Ivory Coast I am seeking for your assistance to help me
transfer this Money to your account and also relocate to your country to
further my study and I am willing to offer you 15% of the total sum for
your help. Please, Kindly call me on this Telephone Number or my private
email address (amani.w101@hotmail.fr ) for more detail or contact for mo
re details.

Best Regards
Williams Amani,

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam