419 scam: Mr. Banda Stephen. <banda-stephen@hotmail.com> INVESTMENT PROPOSAL

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "tax clearance" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- banda-stephen@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr. Banda Stephen. <banda-stephen@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 15:00:35 -0500
Subject: INVESTMENT PROPOSAL

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am a private investor based in Europe (Utrecht). A group of government officials From
South Africa contacted me with an offer. I am to solicit and state their offer, if your
Interest is genuine; You can contact me for further briefing.
You will be made a beneficiary of a very huge sum of money ($56.5md) and it will be
transferred To you. A high compensation of 20% awaits you, the remaining balance
(Minus the interest, Handling and tax clearance charges, which will be offset by us and
Deducted from the transfer Sum) to a nominated bank account in Europe or your
Country.
I don’t think I need to spell out the importance of secrecy in this matter considering what
is involved. Let me state clearly here that the account you will be providing does not need
to have Funds in it; it is only needed to be active and be able to receive the funds in
question.
I need your quick response to this mail to indicate your intent, by forwarding your details
to me. This is important as we would need to talk and have a meeting to discuss the
Modalities of this Offer.
For further clarification please contact me through my private telephone number, I am in
London at the moment here are my contact details +44 77000 17912 or better still
through my email address. banda-stephen@hotmail.com?
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Banda Stephen.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam