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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "HSBC Holdings plc" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hsbcbankatmdept@depthsbc.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2015 19:16:05 +0200
Subject: PAYMENT CODE: EXB/745875 $1,000,000.00 USD TO YOU.

Attention: Unpaid Beneficiary,

On behalf of the MICHELLE OBAMA'S FOUNDATION and UNITED NATIONS.We wish to notify you as a beneficiary of $1,000,000.00 USD in compensation of scam victims for the month of NOVEMBER/DECEMBER. We have taken care of the cost of transfer (C.O.T) and the VAT. CONTACT:- Managing Director of the HSBC BANK,UK. Private Email: hsbcbankatmdept@depthsbc.com

NOTE: ALL REPLIES SHOULD BE SENT TO EMAIL: hsbcbankatmdept@depthsbc.com

Anti-fraud resources: