419 scam: "Paula Estello"<paulaestello@london.com> PRIVATE INVESTMENT

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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:

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. )
- "million british pounds" (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)
- "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "misspaulaestello@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Paula Estello" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <misspaulaestello@w.cn>
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2010 02:04:48 +0100
Subject: PRIVATE INVESTMENT

Dearest,

My name Is Miss Paula Estello, I work in London and the personal assistant to one of the richest man in London. I am from Spain.

Apology for my writing if it comes to you as an offense. My main purpose of writing is to seek your assistance to stand as my partner to receive my fund deposited with a Security Company named (MUTUAL GROUP, S.L.VALENCIA,SPAIN.) I sent this funds through a diplomat going to Spain with an attached note that I am going to send my partner to come and pick up this fund for the purpose of investment.

Please note that the Security Company have given me a deadline for the release of the fund to my partner.

This fund was realized from my boss unknowingly to him. Please I will want to crave your indulgence at this point to come and stand as my partner to receive this fund from the security company if not it will be confiscated. All I need to do is to give them your contact information for them to contact you and arrange on how you will pick up the fund. The said amount is Five Million British Pounds.

I am ready to give you 30% of this total sum, if you can assist me because presently I can not leave my boss at the moment, and if I do, it may look suspicious.

Let me know your readiness so that I can tell you the step to take.
I will be waiting for your reply.

Paula Estello
misspaulaestello@w.cn

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam