419 scam: Wilson Atah <wilsonatah@btinternet.com> From Wilson Atta,

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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:
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a orphan scam.
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.
- watta21@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- through this my email id immediately you receive this mail (watta21@yahoo.com ) urgent assistance needed. i am a 21 years old boy, i was (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Wilson Atah <wilsonatah@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: wilsonatah@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:42:16 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: From Wilson Atta,

>From Wilson Atta,
I Come across your profile web and have Decided to get in touch with you after the prayer,to see if you can help me solve my problem.
Please contact me through this my email ID immediately you receive this mail (watta21@yahoo.com ) urgent assistance needed.
I am a 21 years old boy, i was born on the 1of january 1988.to the family of Williams Atta .and my father name is Williams he is a very wealthy gold and cocoa merchant who based in ACCRA   and ABIDJAN respectively, and my mothers name is Sheila.and I am there only child.well when i was a kid i went to a private schools and things were going on well for me and my parents till when i was in high school when my mother died on the 21ST october 1999 ,
My father took me so special because i am motherless. and he shower all his love on me and promised me that he will never have another woman because he did not want me for any problem.but has fate his my father got dead last year.but before the death of my father on the 12th December 2009 in a private hospital here in Abidjan , he called me secretly to his bed side and told me that he kept a sum of $6.500 000 (Six million five hundred thousand united states dollars) in a bank in Abidjan Cote D'ivoire.
meanwhile that he used my name as the next of kin in deposit of the fund.He also explained to me that it was because of this money he was poisoned by his business partner and that i should seek for foreign partner in a country of my choice where i would transfer this money and use it for investment purpose, such as;real estate investment or stock market investment.
     Plesae, i am honourably soliciting your kind assistance as follows.
1) To provide a bank account where this money will be transfered into.

2) To serve as the guardian of these fund ,since i am 21years old.

3)To make arrangement for me in your country to continue my educational career and to   procure me a residential permit in your country.

I am inclined to offer you 15% of the total sum as a mode of compensation for your effort after the successful transfering of these fund to your nominated account overseas.Please i will be very happy if this transaction will be concluded with in seven (7) working days from now.I am expecting to hear from you as soon as possible.
please reply me to my private email ID(wilsonatah@yahoo.co.jp
)
May Almighty God bless you as you do care for me Amen.
Best regard
Wilson Atta.

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