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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:

Fraud email example:

From: HSBC BANK PLC <mark_diva_01@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 2010 13:10:55 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: TOP SECRET & URGENT MESSAGE TO YOU PLEASE:


TOP SECRET & URGENT MESSAGE TO YOU PLEASE:
 
HSBC Bank Plc.
1 Woburn Place
Russell Square
London. WC1H OLQ
 
Dear Sir,

I must first apologize for this unexpected e-mail message to you, I am aware that this is not the best medium for an approach when starting a business relationship since we have not met before, but as time goes on you will realize the need for my action.
 
My name is Mr. Mark Diver, a manager in HSBC bank in London. I got your information during my search on your Country Chambers of Commerce. I am 47 Years of Age and Married with four Lovely Kids. It may interest you to know that I am a man of peace.
 
I wish to request for your consent in a business deal valued at US$55,500,000.00 (Fifty Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States dollars) that I want to transfer into a safe foreign bank account.
 
I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit both of us, as a Branch Manager, it is my duty to send in a financial report to our head Office at the end of each year. In our 2009 end of year report, my branch in which I am the manager made excess profit Which our Head Office is not aware of, then I decided to place the above mentioned amount on what we call (SUSPENSE ACCOUNT) without any beneficiary.
 
As an Officer of the Bank I can not be directly connected to this funds, so this informed my decision to contact you for us to move the funds to your account. Note there are practically no risk involved, it will be a bank to bank transfer, all I need from you is your cooperation for me to front you as the depositor so that the funds will be transferred to your designated account.
 
If you accept this offer to work with me, I will appreciate it very much. As soon as I receive your response I will give you details on how we can achieve it successfully. Please for further communications, get in touch with me through my private email as stated hereunder.

Best Regards,
 
Mr Mark Diver.(Manager)
Private Tel: +44 792 4004 258.
Fax: +44 870 312 2043
Private Email: markdiverhsbc@accountant.com



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