419 scam: "Stephen Cole"<stephen888cole@yahoo.com> Re: (Investment Proposal from Mr S. Cole)

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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:
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Stephen Cole" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stephen388cole@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 25 May 2012 22:56:49 -0000
Subject: Re: (Investment Proposal from Mr S. Cole)

Dear Sir,
I am pleased to solicit your sincere and urgent assistance over this matter; I am Stephen Cole the Chief Executive Officer of Hamilton Trust Consultant, Harare, Zimbabwe. I am presently in London, United Kingdom.

I am in possession $18M, which I would like to invest in your country with your 100% assistance. The funds are presently with a Security and Finance Company here in United Kingdom.

However, I do not know any investor in your country who I may trust to handle the business for me as I am a foreigner and will likely travel back to my country as soon as formal agreement is signed and the funds is invested in a viable business of your choice. Also I will like to know the business you can invest the funds on and what I should be expecting for the period of 5 years.

I am prepared to give you 5% of the total sum before investment and 30% of the profit realised for 5 years. I will inform my attorney to prepare a memorandum of understanding, which we should sign on my arrival.

Finally, as soon as I have your consent I will furnish you with more details. I will be looking forward to hear from you at the earliest time.

Yours faithfully,
Stephen Cole.

FWJNVDNUMOIWRUKSWMYEYCPEJPKZZQQKJHXECY

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam