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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: "MR. MARK DIVER" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <markdiver_hsbc@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2011 21:05:07 +0100
Subject: TOP SECRET & URGENT MESSAGE FOR YOU PLS!!

TOP SECRET & URGENT MESSAGE FOR YOU PLS!!

Dear Sir,

My name is Mr. Mark Diver, a manager in one of the HSBC bank branch here in London. I got your information during my search on your Country Chambers of Commerce.

I wish to request for your assistance to invest the sum of US$55,500,000.00 (Fifty Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States dollars). My preference is any good profit yielding business and I would appreciate any good ideas you can come up with.

If you are interested, send me your full contact details and a brief introduction of your company/business activities as well as investment opportunities in your country.

I can be reached through my private telephone number or fax as stated under.

Best Regards,

Mr. Mark Diver (Manager)
HSBC Bank Plc.
1 Woburn Place
Russell Square
London WC1H OLQ , UK
Tel: 00 44 787 228 2497
Fax: 00 44 870 312 2043

Anti-fraud resources: