419 scam: "MICHAEL SMITH"<fwww.info@yahoo.com.hk> RE--HSBC BANK PLC-- PAYMENT NOTIFICATION VALUED AT (US$10.5MILLION)

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- ",500,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "contract review panel" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447023013759 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- hsbc.bank749@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MICHAEL SMITH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michaelsmlth@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 00:14:21 +0200
Subject: RE--HSBC BANK PLC-- PAYMENT NOTIFICATION VALUED AT (US$10.5MILLION)

FROM MICHAEL SMITH
DIRECTOR, REMITTANCE UNIT
HSBCBANK PLC
Telephone: + 44-702-301-3759
Fax: + 44-7006085187
Email:hsbc.bank749@gmail.com

IMMEDIATE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION VALUED AT (US$10.5MILLION)

It is my modest obligation to write you this letter in regards to the
authorization of your owned payment through our most respected financial institution (HSBC BANK PLC). I am Michael Smith, the Director Remittance Unit HSBC Bank Plc, London UK. The British Government, in conjunction with the US GOVERNMENT, WORLD BANK, UNITED

NATIONS ORGANIZATION on foreign payment matters, has empowered my bank after much consultation and consideration, to handle all foreign payments and release them to their appropriate beneficiaries with the help of a representative from Federal Reserve Bank.
As the newly appointed/accredited International Paying Bank, we have been instructed by the World Governing Bodies, together with the Committee on International Debt and the Board of Foreign Winnings, Inheritance and Contract Review Panel, to release your overdue funds with immediate effect; with this exclusive Vide Transaction

No:WHA/EUR/209 and Transfer Allocation No:ICBPLC/X44/701LN/HSBC/0X4, Password: 339331, Pin Code: 78569, Certificate of Merit No: 104, Release Code No: 0876; Immediate ICBPLC Telex Confirmation No: -222568: Secret Code: XXTN014. Having received these vital payment numbers, you are instantly qualified to receive and confirm your payment with the United Nations immediately within the next 48hrs.

Be informed that we have verified your payment file as directed to us, and your email is next on the list of our outstanding fund beneficiaries to receive their payment before the end of this second term of the year 2010. Be advised that because of too many funds beneficiaries due for payment at this first quarter of the year, you are entitled to receive the sum of Ten Million five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$10,500,000.00) only and to facilitate the process of this transaction, please kindly re-confirm the following information below:

1) Your full Name:......................... ................................ ....................
2) Your Full Address:....................... ............................... ..................
2) Phones, Fax and Mobile No:........................... ..............................
3) Profession, Age and Marital Status:........................ ........................
4) Copy of any valid form of your Identification:............... .....................

Upon our receipt of the above mentioned information, your payment will be processed and released to you without delays. Be also informed that you are required to discontinue further communication with any other person(s) or office so as to avoid distortion of data; you are required to provide the above information for your transfer to take place through Bank to Bank Remittance directly from HSBC Bank Plc. Your prompt response to the above directive is highly imperative.

Yours Faithfully

MICHAEL SMITH
DIRECTOR, REMITTANCE UNIT
HSBC BANK PLC.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam