419 scam: "Mr.Edes Abebe" <info@stella.com> Business 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.
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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "30% for you " (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)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin 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.
- +2348138005849
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.
- abebeedes20@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Edes Abebe" <info@stella.com>
Reply-To: abebeedes20@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:35:31 +0700
Subject: Business Proposal!!!

24th August 2009
Address : 15 Alao Estate Road,
Lagos,Nigeria.
Email Address:abebeedes20@yahoo.com.hk

Dear Friend,

I write you after proper consideration that a telephone conversation may
not be an ideal medium to contact you. I am Edes Abebe, A cousin and
personal assistant to the late Chief Mrs. Stella Obasanjo, the late
wife of the president Olusegen Obasanjo of Nigeria who died in Spain on
Sunday the 23rd of Oct 2005 after an unsuccessful surgery operation.

As the cousin and personal assistant to the deceased I handle in confidence
some of her affairs, mostly properties, Investment and funds both domestic
and overseas. In this case my sister/client who left Thirty million Great
British Pounds sterling (30,000,000.00) and so many other investments
with my signatory abroad for her personal reason. The family will call
me to account for her properties and funds overseas after Three years of
her death according to the tradition our people which will happen any
moment from now as its past Three years.

So at this juncture, I seek your consent to write the bank and present
you as a beneficiary of some part of the fund which has been approved
for transfer by my late sister in her fund deposited in a particular bank
,since i have all the documents regarding the deposited funds which I
will disclose to you as we progress in this transaction. All we require
from you is 100% trust, and honest corporations to enable us see this deal
through, and I also guarantee you that this transaction will be
executed under a legitimate process that will protect us from any
breach of the law.

The sharing formula will be 60% for us 30% for you and 5 % for charity
to my client's pet project CHILD CARE TRUST FOUNDATION
,for the less privileged and disabled children and the remaining 5%
will be set aside for any expenses incurred during the course of
transfer process. Upon your prompt reply of your acceptance to this mail,
I will forward a letter for fund transfer on your behalf to the bank to your
designated bank account. I wait in anticipation for your cooperation in
reply, and I am also ready for any question concerning the clarity of
this transaction.

Stella Obasanjo body back in Nigeria -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4374532.stm
Stella Obasanjo donates womens' trophy -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/2932431.stm
Stella Obasanjo biography - http://www.onelga.com/stellabio.htm
http://www.onlinenigeria.com/stella_obasanjo.asp

Upon consideration by you, send to me your followings:

1. Full Name:
2. Address:
3. Age/Sex:
4. Occupation:
5. Nationality:
6. Tel number/fax so that we can speedy up the
transaction before i will be called to give account of
the assets.;Please reply me through this email address :
abebeedes20@yahoo.com.hk

Yours sincerely,
Mr.Edes Abebe
+2348138005849

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