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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Bethel Solundo." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <doraphil@ciudad.com.ar>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:07:13 -0800
Subject: Please pray for me while you contact my secretary for your cashier check.

My Dear,


I crave your indulgence at this mail coming from somebody you have not known before but I believe I have been destined to be of blessing to you.

I am Mrs. Bethel Solundo former director of Benin Cement Company. I am presently in Spain where I am under going treatment.

I want you to contact my secretary in Republic du Benin, her name is Miss.Dorathy Philips using her email address ( doraphil@ciudad.com.ar ) or telephone + 229 93 48 98 58.

Instruct her to send you the sum of ($800,000) Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars in Cashier Check which I kept for you.

I cannot predict what will be my fate by the time you will receive the fund seeing that I am in a very critical condition here in the hospital that is why I ask you to assist me in your prayers.

Mrs. Bethel Solundo.

Anti-fraud resources: