Stringing Along an Estonian Scam Artist Vol. IV
Here's the latest installment in the continuing story of Andreas Olev, humanitarian, banker, cancer victim and scam artist.
As we mentioned in our first post, we thought it might prove instructive and amusing to follow up on an obvious fraud e-mail offer and see where it lead. In our second post, we learned that Andreas is a finance officer with the Hansa Bank in Tallinn, Estonia, and has come into possession of $30 million. In our third post we discovered Andreas has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and wants our help to set up a foundation for terminally ill children—for which we would receive $6 million.
Andreas gets personal in his latest correspondence, and includes a sepia-toned photo of himself ("me at home"), along with a color photo ("Nephew Brian and I") of someone who may or may not be the same person in the first photo, holding a child he says is his late nephew Brian (not a terribly Estonian name), who died of leukemia, and whom he says is the reason he wants to help others "before my time runs out."
In his previous e-mail, Andreas asked us to help him establish an $18 million foundation for children suffering from sickle cell anemia. Now, however, he appears to have abandoned the idea of a sickle cell anemia foundation in favor of funding leukemia research by providing funds directly to UNICEF, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and Action Medical Research in the U.K. If nothing else, the man has done his homework.
More ominously, he also seems to be asking if we'll be willing to travel to the "paying bank" in order to complete the transaction. More than a few victims of these scams have been lured to other countries, where they've been kidnapped or murdered.
Below is his latest e-mail, along with our reply:
----- Original Message -----
From: Andreas Olev (olevandreas@googlemail.com)
To: consumerwebwatch@cu.consumer.org
Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 3:02 PM
Subject: Re: How are you
Hello,
I will be proceeding to get the grant of administration through the services of an attorney, in the probate registry,I will be counting on you my friend all through. When the legal paper comes out in your name I will be informing you.
I have attached a picture of myself and my late nephew who suffered from Leukemia before his death,this is the driving force why I want to help those that has this sickness before my time runs out.I am looking into certain areas to make adequate funding available for research into this disease.I already have UNICEF in mind and the National heart lung and blood institute in the US also Action medical research in the UK knows likely areas of the illness to put money into,we would be asking for their advice and forwarding funds to them. Also I am looking into gene therapy research,for the appropriate bodies to make donations to, as it seems to be the future to finding a cure for it.Also fighting this lung cancer has been a great distraction for me all this while.
What i mean by spearheading this project, is that you will be the one to disburse the money to different organisation to help the needed children. I will not want my name to be mention regarding the funds.
I more question, will be able to travel to the paying bank that will carry out the payment to you when all things have been put in place
I look forward to working with you and i will be calling you later today. My greetings to your family.
Andreas
Here's our reply:
Hello Andreas,
Good to hear from you. Thanks for the photos. So sorry to hear about your nephew. I’m sure you miss him very much, and applaud your efforts to use the majority of the funds to help children with the same affliction.
However, I’m a little confused, since in your previous e-mail, you indicated a desire to use the $18 million to establish a foundation to prevent sickle cell anemia. It seems you’ve had second thoughts and would like me to disburse the funds directly to the organizations you mentioned in order to combat leukemia. May I ask what prompted this change of plan? What about the children suffering from sickle cell anemia?
Finally, although I realize English is not your native language, I’m unclear about the following sentence: "I more question, will be able to travel to the paying bank that will carry out the payment to you when all things have been put in place."
Are you asking if I’ll be able to travel to the bank in order to complete the transaction? If so, do you mean the Hansa Bank in Tallinn, Estonia? How much time will I need? I have limited vacation and will have to make arrangements well in advance of any travel. Finally, as you know, the global economy is in terrible shape, and my personal funds are limited. Will you be able to cover the cost of my travel and accommodations, in advance?
I look forward to hearing from you. My greetings to your family as well.
Alan
To be continued. . .