419 scam: "Miss Estelle Hodonou" <hodonou_estelle@att.net> DEAREST ONE,

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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.
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:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "million 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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a orphan scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22966530208 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- miss.estellehodonou@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Miss Estelle Hodonou" <hodonou_estelle@att.net>
Reply-To: <miss.estellehodonou@rocketmail.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 16:47:37 +0530
Subject: DEAREST ONE,

Dearest One,

I am Miss Estelle Hodonou, The only Child of late Chief Michael Hodonou who was a very wealthy Cotton merchant in here in the northern part of Cotonou, the Economic Capital of Benin Republic. He was murdered with my mother in cold blood because of political land dispute. Before his death, my later father disclosed to me the secret of the total sum of $8.5 Million US dollars in a Sealed Metallic Trunk Box which he deposited as inheritance for me under a security company here in Cotonou - Benin Republic registered in disguise as FAMILY VALUABLES / AFRICAN ARTWORKS, this was done for security reasons and to protect the funds when he noticed his life was in danger. This funds that he wanted to invest in his Raw Cotton business in Cotonou here. According to my late father he made an agreement with the security company which i have a copy that his partner/beneficiary will come forward for the claiming of the consignment Box for onward Investment abroad.

My late father advised me while he was still alive that if anything happened to him, I should seek for an honest, trustworthy and Reliable foreigner who will stand as his foreign business partner/beneficiary for the release of the consignments so that the Metallic Trunk Box containing $8.5Million USD, will be Released to him/her for a partnership investment, based on our agreement. Right now, I am living in a church for the purpose of retrieving this consignment from the security company to a trust worthy Individual as you.

In a nut shell, I am writing to have your trust to stand as the beneficiary of the Consignment as i will provide you all necessary documents. Provide me your full Delivery details so that I will submit it to the security company for the release of the consignment for a partnership investment you will introduce in your country. Note that after the consignment claim is made, you will send some money to me to secure the necessary traveling documents to come over to meet with you for the investment establishment. On confirmation of your interest to assist me, the document which was issued to my late father by the security company at the day of deposit will be forwarded to you for your Verification & confirmation.

Kindly indicate your interest as soon as you receive this mail to serve as my guardian on this fund since I am only a girl of 21yrs and make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my Education and to secure a residential permit in your country. Moreover, I am willing to offer you 30% of the total sum as compensation for your effort /input after the successful release of the funds from the security company. Furthermore, you can indicate your option towards assisting me and as I believe that this transaction would be concluded within 7days, from the day you signify interest to assist me.

NOTE: THIS TRANSACTION NEED ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECRECY FOR SECURITY REASONS, THE OFFICIALS OF THE SECURITY COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THE REAL CONTENT OF THE METALIC TRUNK BOX, AS IT WAS REGISTERED AS FAMILY VALUABLES CONTAINING AFRICAN CRAFT WORKS. Contact me through my private email (miss.estellehodonou@rocketmail.com) or telephone ( +22966530208 ) for further guidelines.

I am waiting to hear from you ( +22966530208 ).

Best Regards
Miss Estelle Hodonou

Anti-fraud resources:

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