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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" (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2010 16:38:53 -0700
Subject: Your Online Account Could Be Temporary Suspended.


 

 

Thanks for banking with HSBC BANK PLC ! You have a pending payment on your online banking. But we have been unable to verify your account with us. Due to some reasons.

Our Technical Security Observe Multiple Error Logins from your Customer ID, Please log on with your correct security details to activate also prove ownership of this account.

Re-activate Account Here

Your submitted information will be verified by HSBC BANK PLC Account Management Department in 24 hours.

We are committed to provide you with a first-class service .

Your sincerely ,  

Customer Security & Account Service

This email and any attachments are confidential and may also be privileged. If you are not the addressee, do not disclose, copy, circulate or in any other way use or rely on the information contained in this email or any attachments. If received in error, notify the sender immediately and delete this email and any attachments from your system. Emails cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error free as the message and any attachments could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, delayed, incomplete or amended. HSBC BANK PLC and its subsidiaries do not accept liability for damage caused by this email or any attachments and may monitor email traffic.

Anti-fraud resources: