419 scam: ADAMS ESTELLE <adams.estelle@btinternet.com> From Estelle Adams

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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.

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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:
- "a security company " (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. )
- "trunk box" (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 united states 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: ADAMS ESTELLE <adams.estelle@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: eadams220@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:55:43 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: From Estelle Adams

>From Estelle Adams
Cote d' Ivoire.
West Africa
Greetings to you and all members of your family. I write to seek your
assistance for an important proposal that will be of the mutual benefit toboth of us. My name is Estelle Adams, 20 years old and the only daughter of my late parents. My late father was a very wealthy cocoa merchant in Abidjan, the economic capital of Ivory coast, my father was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their outings on a business tripwhile my mother died when I was a baby.Before the death
of my father on october 2007 he informed me that he has the sum of Seven million,five hundred thousand United States Dollars.(US$7.500,000.00) which he sealed in a trunk box and deposited in the custody of a security company here for safekeeping and he informed me that no other person knows the real content of the box which he used my name as his only daughter as the next of Kin in depositing of the trunk box. He also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that he was poisoned by his business associates. That I should seek for a foreign partner in a country of my choice where I will transfer this money and use it for investment.Dear, I am honourably seeking your assistance in the following ways:
1) To claim out the deposit from the security company and to provide a bank account into which the money would be transferred to.
2) To serve as a guardian of this fund.
(3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further
my education and to secure a resident permit in your country.
I am willing to offer you 15% of the total sum as compensation for your
effort/ input after the successful transfer of this fund into your
nominated account overseas. Kindly indicate your interest to assist me as Iwant this transaction to be concluded within fourteen (14)days. I wait your
urgent reply.
Thanks and God bless you.
Yours sincerely,
Estelle Adams

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