419 scam: "Paul Williams"<paulwilliamsdesk@yahoo.com.hk> THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PREVIOUS EFFORTS

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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:
- "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" 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.
- +447031851210 (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.
- kan.chan1970@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Paul Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kan.chan1970@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 21 Mar 2010 02:49:15 +0700
Subject: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PREVIOUS EFFORTS

My regards to you and your family,

How are you doing? Hope you have not forgotten me, I am the person who contacted you some time ago to assist me secure the release of some money accrued from the over invoicing of a contract/inheritance and Next Of Kin that was awarded by my government some time ago . Though you were not able to assist me conclude the transaction, I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transffered under the assistance and cooperation of a new partner from Brazil.Presently i'm in London for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. meanwhile, i didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assit me in transfering those funds, I made sure you were not left out from the benefit of the transaction hence I kept aside for you sum of $1.5 Million Bank draft. I and my new partner agreed to compensate you with that amount for all your past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter.

I appreciated your efforts at that time very much,so feel free and get in touch with my Financial adviser Mr Kane singha and instruct him on how to send the Bank draft to you.

Please do let me know immediately you receive the Draft Via my direct telephone number:+44 7031851210 so that we share the joy together after all the suffering i experienced at that time.

At the moment,i'm very busy here because of the investment projects me and my partner are having at hand,finally,remember that i left instruction to my lawyer in thailand so as soon as you contact him, he will tell you possible ways your draft could be sent to you,so feel free to get in touch with My Lawyer .Below is the contact of my Financial adviser:

Mr Kane Singha.
Email:kan.chan1970@hotmail.com
Tell:+(66) 8-59037632

Best Regard,

Paul Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam