419 scam: "CHARLES SOLUDO Esq" <CHARLESSOLUDO@mail.westin.com.tw> Dear Friend,

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- "charles soludo" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "honphilipwatson02@qatar.io" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +2347030614433 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "CHARLES SOLUDO Esq" <CHARLESSOLUDO@mail.westin.com.tw>
Reply-To: honphilipwatson02@qatar.io
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:21:04 +0800
Subject: Dear Friend,

Dear Friend,

It is my greatest pleasure to reach you after our unsuccessful attempt to get
those fund transferred.Well, I just want to use this medium to thank you very
much for your earlier concern and assistance to help me in receiving the
funds,without any positive outcome.I am obliged to inform you that I have
succeeded in receiving the funds under the cooperation of a new partner from
Dominican Republic, with the help of one of the Lady Accountant who works with
the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF), and she rendered a tremendous help to
us. In appreciation of your earlier concern to me in receiving the funds, I
have decided to compensate you with the sum of $1.200.000. One million two
hundred thousand US dollars) in a Bank Draft. Presently, I am in Dominican
Republic for investment project with my own share under the advice of my partner

Meanwhile,I will be sending you e-mail from time to time to know if you have
received your payment or not.In the light of the above, your identification
code IS 222F.You are to contact our coordinator HON PHILIP WATSON, Access
management and support initiatives, a consultant firm in Cotonou,Republic of
Benin His
E-Mail : (honphilipwatson02@qatar.io)
TELEPHONE :+2347030614433

Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy
together after all the suffering at that time. In the moment, I will be on
business trip with Mr Fuungi to Dominican Republic because of the investment
projects we have at hand. I am a happy man for life, So feel free to get in
touch with him without any delay.Finally, remember that I had forwarded
instruction to the secretary on your behalf to receive that CASH CHAQUE, so
feel free to get in touch with PHILIP WATSON my secretary he will send the
CHAQUE to you without any delay

With best regards,
Hon CHARLES SOLUDO Esq.
FORMER CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam