Stringing Along an Estonian Scam Artist Vol. III
Here's the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of Andreas Olev, an Estonian scam artist with a heart of gold.
As mentioned in our first post, we thought it might prove instructive and amusing to actually follow up on a 419 fraud offer and see where it lead. As such, we've been publishing his e-mails and our replies. We published Andreas' first reply in our second post, and now, with his second reply, things are really getting interesting.
We've now learned that Andreas, purportedly a finance officer with the Hansa Bank in Tallinn, Estonia, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and sees this as an opportunity "to make the most of my last days." Which is why he's let us know that he intends to use 60% of the $30 million he says he controls to set up a charity foundation to help children suffering from sickle cell anemia. Seriously. We're to split the remaining 40% between ourselves, leaving us a cool $6 million for our troubles.
Here's his latest e-mail (along with our reply), which, for the third time in row, was sent from a different e-mail address:
----- Original Message -----
From: Andreas Olev (olevandreas@googlemail.com)
To: consumerwebwatch@cu.consumer.org
Sent: Friday, April 03, 2009 9:06 AM
Subject: Re: How are you
Hello,
Thanks for your understanding and willness to partner with me. What would be needed is your full name and physical address together with your phone number for me to use in making you, through an attorney, the administrator of the estate of the deceased which includes the funds that is lodged with us. The legal ownership change will be presented to Hansa Bank which will give its approval for the funds to be paid to you. After this has been done the body that handles remittances in Europe to beneficiaries will be notified and told to release the money to you. You would be contacted by them and they will process it in your name after which the money would be remitted to any account of your choice.
When the money is in your bank account, I intend to set up a charity foundation with Sixty Percent of the money to help Children suffering from sickle cell anemia (You will spearhead this project and my name will not be mentioned). You will receive Twenty Percent as your commission and I will take the remaining Twenty Percent as my share.This transaction is not all about the money, but a dear desire to assist those many children suffering.
I had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and see this as an opportune time to use this to make the most of my last days, and I needed someone outside my sphere of contact so that there would be no link between the beneficiary and I. I will be expecting to hear from you.
Yours sincerely,
Andreas Olev
Here's our reply:
Hello Andreas,
I am so sorry to hear about your medical condition.
The cause you describe is certainly a worthy one, and I'm gratified this transaction will benefit the suffering children more than it will us. What's expected of me in terms of spearheading this project?
As requested, here is my personal information:
Alan Smithee
101 Truman Avenue
Yonkers, New York
USA 10703-1057
914-378-2600
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours Sincerely,
Alan Smithee
To be continued. . .