419 scam: Barrister Donatus Banda <donatusbanda@hotmail.co.za> Study and revert back to me

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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:
- "share the funds upon agreed terms" (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)
- "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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: Barrister Donatus Banda <donatusbanda@hotmail.co.za>
Reply-To: barr.donatusbanda@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:10:12 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Study and revert back to me

Hello,

I must solicit your confidentiality and assure you that I have contacted you in good faith and this proposal will be of mutual benefit. I am Barrister Donatus Banda(Esq.), a legal practitioner and Principal Partner of the ASG Law Chambers and Solicitors, South Africa.

My client late Engr. Johan Jansen a foreigner here in South Africa was killed with his entire family in a fatal auto crash sparing none of their lives in 2007. Before his death, I assisted him in the deposit of (19.5mUSD)Nineteen Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars Only with a financial institution here in Johannesburg for safekeeping.

The funds have remained unclaimed since his death, and such unclaimed funds are appropriated and returned to the treasury as a matter of policy. Considering the lack of success in my bid to locate any of his relatives for over two years now, I hereby solicit your consent to enable me present you as the Next of Kin to my deceased client.

I am contacting you in good faith for this sole reason as I believe that the bank does not deserve to inherit the funds. These reasons led to my resolution to claim the funds, which is why I have contacted you today.

With my permission and position as the attorney in charge,I will proceed to establish you as the next of kin/beneficiary to these funds.

As soon as this is done, you will then give instructions to the bank to transfer the deposited funds into another account you will provide, after which we shall then share the funds upon agreed terms.

I will provide you with further details after when I receive a positive response from you.

Best Regards,

Barrister Donatus Banda
Johannesburg,South Africa.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam