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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 LONDON" <auditor001@web2mail.com>
Reply-To: auditor002@web2mail.com
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2010 10:07:59 +0100
Subject: REF:OVERDUE PAYMENT NOTIFICATIONS HSBC BANK PLC LONDON




--
DEAR CLIENT.


PAYMENT#:MAV///MIN/009 APPROVAL TRANSFER ORDER

REF:OVERDUE PAYMENT NOTIFICATIONS HSBC BANK PLC LONDON

THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOU'RE OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS HAS BEEN
GAZZETED TO BE RELEASED, VIA KEY TELEX TRANSFER (KTT)-DIRECT WIRE
TRANSFER TO YOU BY HSBC BANK COMMITTEE FOR YOUR FUNDS WILLED OVER TO YOU
NOW READY FOR TRANSFER.MEANWHILE, A WOMAN CAME TO MY OFFICE FEW DAYS AGO
WITH A SWORN AFFIDAVIT FROM HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE CLAIMING TO BE YOUR TRUE
REPRESENTATIVE,AND THAT YOU HAVE AUTHORIZED HER TO
RECEIVE YOUR FUND ON YOUR BEHALF.HERE ARE HER INFORMATION'S

NAME DEBBIE SMITH.
BANK NAME: CITI BANK, NEWYORK.
BANK ADDRESS:NEW YORK,
USA ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809428.

PLEASE, DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE, AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS WOMAN
IS FROM
YOU SO THAT THE HSBC BANK WILL NOT BE BEHELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING INTO
THE WRONG ACCOUNT NAME. THE RESERVE BANK GOVERNOR, EXECUTIVE, BOARD OF
DIRECTORS AND THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE INHERITED FUND
HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND ACCREDITED THIS REPUTABLE BANK WITH THE OFFICE OF
THE DIRECTOR,INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE / FOREIGN OPERATIONS, TO ENSURE THAT
YOUR REPRESENTATIVE RECEIVE THIS FUNDS PAYMENT AS SOON AS THIS MONTH.WE
HAVE RECORD IDENTIFYING YOU AS THE BENEFICIARY OF THIS PAYMENT SO THIS
FUND IS ON YOUR NAME AND MANDATED THAT YOU SHOULD NOT HESITATE TO MAKE
CLAIM OF IT. HOWEVER,WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE
SAID MRS. DEBBIE SMITH IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT SIX
WORKING DAYS FROM TODAY.

MEANWHILE DO INDICATE TO ME IF YOU IN ANY WAY RECEIVES THIS LETTER

CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE.

PAUL SMITH

YOUR ACCOUNT OFFICER
HSBC BANK PLC LONDON

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