Business Opportunity Scam
No serious Business opportunity for investment would come out of the blue from a suspect email address and ask you to reply to a similarly suspect address. It is a scam. But my assumed fictional persona has up to US$50 million to invest so let's play along.
E-Mail received:
Date: 01/01/2026, 14:00 -0300 (BRT)
From: Clara Aguela paulosantos@saude.rn.gov.br
Reply-To: mrub737@gmail.com
Subject: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Hello
My name is Clara... I'm seeking a reliable person for an investment project.
Do you currently own or represent a company?
Are you in a position to manage and deploy a significant volume of investment funds in the capacity of a Project Manager?
Upon your response, I will be pleased to share more detailed information regarding this investment opportunity.
Thank you, and I look forward to your reply.
Best regards,
Clara
Notes: Received from a Brazillian government email address with an anonymous Gmail reply address. A standard scam email sent out to maybe hundreds or thousands of email addresses
My reply:
Date: 2/1/2026 at 12:14
From: [Name and Email address redacted]
To: mrub737@gmail.com
Subject: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Hello Clara,
Thank you for contacting me.
The company I represent is able to invest between US$10 million and US$50 million depending on the project and the anticipated return.
Please send full details of your investment opportunity.
Regards,
[Name redacted]
Notes: If I had the amount of money I say I have here I would find safer ways of investing my money!
A response came quickly;
Date: 5/1/2026 at 12:14
From: maria rub mrub737@gmail.com
To: [Name and Email address redacted]
Subject: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Greetings
You already know my name,
I'm a daughter of a notable and reputable politician whose name are; Simeon Dantata Aguela ,a nationality of Republic of Benin, my father is 86years of age, his currently seeking for any reliable, honest and at least 10 years above experience in real estate/any other profitable investments globally.
Please note that any interested person/group of companies must be able to travel for a round table talk. The meeting venue is Muscat, Oman.
More details shall be discussed as we proceed.
Looking forward to hearing from you
Best Regards
Clara
Notes: I have noted that Clara appears to be using an email account in the name of Maria Rub but I won't challenge that. There isn't "a notable and reputable politician" by the name of Simeon Dantata Aguela in either Benin or Muscat Oman or anywhere else. Typical "dodgy story". I have no intention of meeting face to face in this country and certainly not in Muscat, Oman!
So let's tell them a bit more about me (all made up)...
Date: 5/1/2026 at 15:51
From: [Name and Email address redacted]
To: maria rub mrub737@gmail.com
Subject: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Greetings Clara,
Unfortunately for health reasons I cannot travel by air or long distance by land/sea.
I could meet within the UK specifically in [Name of uk city redacted] (I live in [Name of uk city redacted]) or perhaps [Another name of a uk city redacted].
I will fully understand if that is inconvenient to you and you no longer wish to proceed with the business arrangement.
Regards,
[Name redacted]
Notes: Needless to say I don't live even close to the two cities I mention in my email.
They still wish to scam me...
Date: 6/1/2026 at 12:06
From: maria rub mrub737@gmail.com
To: [Name and Email address redacted]
Subject: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Greetings
[Name redacted]
Considering the time factor for a greater outcome,can you please tell us in detail how you intend to help us manage our funds,the sum of fifty million US Dollars(50,000,000 US Dollars)?
What are your conditions?
Notes: Every thing has been a bit vague it would appear that they are going to match my imaginary US$50 million with an imaginary US$50 million of their own. By my mathematics that adds up ro an imaginary total of US$100 million.
My reply...
Date: 6/1/2026 at 13:29
From: [Name and Email address redacted]
To: maria rub mrub737@gmail.com
Subject: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Greetings Clara,
I suggest we establish a UK based limited company (registered with Companies House) with each Director ie each investor being allocated share capital proportional to the amount they have invested.
The Directors would then look at specific investment options.
Regards,
[Name redacted]
Date: 7/1/2026 at 02:32
From: maria rub mrub737@gmail.com
To: [Name and Email address redacted]
Subject: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Greetings
[Name redacted]
We have critically looked into your opinion and it's a welcomed idea, we are deliberating to consider your health challenges as a cogent reason why we should make it possible for our representative to come to UK and meet with you for a further discussion.
Meanwhile, there will be a need to highlight some facts you need to know as we proceed.
*The budgeted sum is Fifty million US Dollars (50,000,000 million USD)
*The money is secured in the custody of a financial security company in Muscat,Oman.
*The fund will be delivered to its final destination through a diplomatic means via the financial security company under the supervision of our representative who is equally an expert in this regard.
Please note that an (MOU) Memorandum Of Understanding will be signed by both parties on or before the arrival of our representative in UK.
Looking forward to hearing from you
Kind Regards,
Clara
Notes: Details to make things look like they are legitimate "diplomatic means via the financial security company under the supervision of our representative who is equallyt an expert in this regard"... "diplomatic couriers who do not exist!
Don't hear from them for a good few days so send a couple of emails to show I am still interested.
Date: 14/1/2026 at 11:55
From: maria rub mrub737@gmail.com
To: [Name and Email address redacted]
Subject: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Greetings [Name redacted],
We have been deliberating the possibilities of reaching you in UK, but it's quite difficult because of the diplomat. I wanted to write you tomorrow being Thursday to update you on the outcome.
France and Belgium are not that far from you, can you visit any of these places?
The amount is never a problem, we are willing to invest the same amount we discussed earlier.
Let me know if you can visit Paris or Belgium so we can commence immediately.
I will be expecting your swift response.
Kind Regards,
Clara
Notes: It is one thing to be incontact with scammers by email but never ever meet them face to face nor be in contact by telephone or video messaging apps. I reply stressing ill health applying even to Paris or Belgium.
Date: 16/1/2026 at 10:12
From: maria rub mrub737@gmail.com
To: [Name and Email address redacted]
Subject: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Greetings [Name redacted],
I had a meeting with my father yesterday and we discussed extensively concerning your inability to travel to any of the suggested countries and we found a common ground to look for the possibility of transferring the money directly to you through a bank.
.My father is doing everything not to be in the picture full time because of his position in the government. He has contacted his lawyer to go to the bank and find out means of transferring the fund to you directly.
Today is friday and the bank may likely work half day, So the lawyer will be in the bank on monday, when he comes back, i will furnish you with the outcome.
Do well by responding to this message so we can go ahead with the latest plan..
Kind Regards,
Clara
Quickly followed by another email...
Date: 20/1/2026 at 7:54
From: maria rub mrub737@gmail.com
To: [Name and Email address redacted]
Subject: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Greetings [Name redacted],I trust this message finds you well. The lawyer has confirmed from the bank yesterday being monday that it is possible to transfer the money directly to you. I have also discussed that with my father and he gave us go ahead.
So you are going to contact accredited Arthony of the Stanbic Bank Ghana , he is the one that will process the transfer. Do well to introduce yourself to him and he will understand because my lawyer has already told him what to do.
Try to contact him immediately so you can also send him the necessary information which they will likely demand from you.
Remember, the amount is USD 50,000,000. United State Dollars. I shall drop his information below. When the transfer must have been completed, we shall discuss further about the investment and the commission.
kwameacheampong@ka-lawfirm.org
kwameacheaponglawoffice@yahoo.com
Phone +233-535314762
Stanbic Bank Ghana accredited attorney
Barrister Kwame B. Acheampong
Notes: So they are going to transfer money to me. If this was a real business transaction I would be starting to be confused... If they were really transferring money to me would they transfer such a large sum of money to a fictional person?
So I introduce myself to the Attorney not Arthony as they spell it.
Date: 22/1/2026 at 10:20
From: Barrister Kwame B. Acheampong kwameacheampong@ka-lawfirm.org
To: [Name and Email address redacted]
Subject: FUNDS TRANSFER
Attn: [Name redacted]
I am sorry for the delay in responding back to you is was because your
message came in as sperm.
I believe our communication can move faster if we add phone
communication.
Thanks for your understanding and co-operation.
Yours sincerely,
Barrister Kwame B. Acheampong
Notes: I again decline giving a phone number claiming "communicating in writing minimises misunderstandings due to regional dialects".
Further email received...
Date: 26/1/2026 at 3:38
From: Barrister Kwame B. Acheampong kwameacheampong@ka-lawfirm.org
To: [Name and Email address redacted]
Subject: FUNDS TRANSFER
Attn: [Name redacted]
The bank is demanding you present documents that will show you the
$50,000,000:00 belongs to you, also you should send a scanned of your ID
and proof of address.
I need to present the documents and proof of Identification to Bank for
confirmation and release of your fund.
Thanks for your co-operation.
Help Us to Serve you Better.
Barrister Kwame B. Acheampong
Notes: I reply with fake supporting documents, I won't say what they are... scammers read these pages. I am under no illusion that the "Barrister" is representing the actual bank.
Clara, once she knows that I have submitted my documents updates me on the way ahead. Just meaningless twaddle, the aim though being to get me to transfer actual money to them.
Date: 27/1/2026 at 12:40
From: maria rub mrub737@gmail.com
To: [Name and Email address redacted]
Subject: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Hi [Name redacted]
We have some signing to make after the transfer..I want you to concentrate with the bank first so they can make a smooth transfer. We wouldn't want any distraction from your end.
My father also asked me to inform you that $2 ,000,000. will be given to you for accepting to do business with us.... It's for mobilization and it will also be stated in the documents which will be sent to you for signing when the transaction is done successfully.
Then the rest of the amount will be for business. Let me also remind you that more funds will still come later this year when you must've done investing the first $50,000,000.
Do have a pleasant day...
Kind Regards,
Clara
Notes: So I am going to receive US$2,000 for "mobilisation".
Now Clara's lawyer has prepared the documents for me to check before sending to the Bank's Attorney...
Date: 3/2/2026 at 5:09
From: maria rub mrub737@gmail.com
To: [Name and Email address redacted]
Subject: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Hi [Name redacted],
You're very lucky that everything went successfully... The lawyer has concluded process of the complete documents which you're going to submit to the bank Attorney.
He came back this evening from Ghana so I decided to send it to you immediately.
Below are the documents, go through it and then forward it to the bank Attorney so he can submit it to the bank as it is supposed to. It took a little time, but i am happy we finally succeeded.
I believe we're almost there. The bank will now begin the transfer process after
they receive the documents from you.
Do well to acknowledge this email once you receive it.
Kind Regards,
Clara
Notes: Very impressive documents especially with all my details, the details are redacted in the linked images. Are they genuine documents? They may be good copies of the documents issued by the government authorities but they have not been issued by those authorities. Just provided to lure the scam victim in and get them on the "hook".
We forward the documents to Barrister Kwame B. Acheampong and that is when the "scam baiting" starts to unravel. We all have our "red lines"... providing personal details, dealt with by supplying fake identification details and documents and making use of "burner" email accounts untraceable back to our real selves. When they ask you for your telephone number, you are really stuck unless you wish to set aside a "burner phone" and number. It is time then to realise that the "scam baiting" is coming to an end. The conclusion below...
Date: 5/2/2026 at 11:56
From: maria rub mrub737@gmail.com
To: [Name and Email address redacted]
Subject: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Greetings [name redacted],
Do well to send it as soon as possible as you come across this message.
Clara
My reply:
Date: 5/2/2026 at 15:06
From: [Name and Email address redacted]
To: maria rub mrub737@gmail.com
Subject: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Hi Clara,
I only make business communications by email or letter so that I have written record of what I have said and what the other person has said.
Please ask lawyer to continue communication by email.
Also bear in mind your lawyer can request that I do something but never demand that I do something. I am happy to let this pass as being an error of someone whose mother tongue is not English.
Regards,
[Name redacted]
I don't hear anything back for a few days so I enquire if any progress that is when I get the sad news that they have "cancelled everything".
Date: 9/2/2026 at 9:27 PM
From: maria rub mrub737@gmail.com
To: [Name and Email address redacted]
Subject: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Greetings [name redacted],
We requested your phone number and you couldn't provide it, so my father canceled the process.
Clara
Notes: And there we have it, we never found out how much was to be requested to pay the first advanced fee.
Recommendation: Unless you plan on "scam baiting", just delete the email and don't reply
Michael Fowler
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