419 scam: "Unicredit Bank Hungary"<hanna@ktc.cn> Update on Transfer of $17,187,000.00

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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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Unicredit Bank Hungary" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info@unicreditbank-hungary.at.vu>
Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 18:09:00 -0400
Subject: Update on Transfer of $17,187,000.00

Tuesday, 22 October, 2013.

Unicredit Bank
Address: 1054 Budapest, Szabadság tér 5-6, Hungary
Tel: +36 1 700 8380

Dear Customer,

This is to bring to your knowledge that an disbursement-dossier for completion of payment of your fund ($17,187,000.00) that was moved from Africa due to corrupt/scam activities down there has been submitted to this bank by The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), which is an international arbitration institution which facilitates arbitration and conciliation of legal disputes between international investors.

You are hereby mandated/advised to respond to this letter with details on the most convenient method to receive this sum, i.e. should you prefer to receive your fund via (a) bank to bank transfer, or (b) ATM card that will be issued by this bank.

Please note that we are required by law to ask you to prove who you are and where you live. This is to comply with money laundering regulations and to help stop criminals using financial products or services to move money around. This security check applies to both new and existing customers. You will need to provide us with a proof of identity (International Passport, Drivers’ License, Current Rent or Utility Bill).
E-mail it to us at: info@unicreditbank-hungary.at.vu

Thanks for banking with us; We aim for excellence and we consistently strive to be easy to deal with.

Yours in service,
ANDRÁS KALISZKY
Chief Operation Officer; Member of the Management Board;
Head of the Global Banking Services Division

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam