419 scam: "HSBC Bank Plc"<officebox@hsbc.org> HSBC PAYMENT ON ACCRUED INTEREST OF US$2.5M

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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:
- "central bank of nigeria" (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.
- +447035983625 (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.
- h.s.b.c.co.uk@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "HSBC Bank Plc" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <h.s.b.c.co.uk@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2011 03:55:10 -0800
Subject: HSBC PAYMENT ON ACCRUED INTEREST OF US$2.5M

HSBC Bank Plc
Branch Name: Canada Square
London E14 5HQ
Correspondence address
Customer Service Center
33-33a King’s road,
E14 5HQ London
Sort codes:30-64-72, 30-91-86, 30-97-71
Email: h.s.b.c.co.uk@hotmail.co.uk
Tel: +447035 983 625
Fax: +44 2080825762

Attn: Beneficiary

Re: Your Transaction

RE: PAYMENT ON ACCRUED INTEREST OF US$2.5M

I am the Financial Director and Head of Swift Transfer Unit of HSBC Bank Plc England.

Sometime ago, in our bank your contract fund was brought to Financial Department, CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN) and after some period, this funds was taken back to the Federal Government of Nigerian Treasury. For the period of time this funds has been in our bank, it generated an interest of US$2.5M (Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars Only) which we are about to pay to you via our (48) hours Immediate Electronic Wire Transfer.

For your information and advice, you need to hasten up to pick this Fund because from time to time the C.B.N auditors do come to Financial department to cross-check their financial balance and updates, the earlier you comply with the demands of the release of the fund, the faster the action, because the CBN officials wants the accrued interest to be paid to them but we refused, so when they find out that this interest fund is still in Financial department they will want to call back the money to the Federal Government of Nigeria Treasury Account.

What we need from you now is any form of your identification for example; your international passport or your drivers license with a proof of your address, then your telephone and fax number for easy communication. As a matter of fact we don't have enough time to waste since we have wasted time in contacting you respectively, so try and comply with the entire necessary requirement for immediate remittance of the accrued interest fund into your account.

Yours sincerely.

Brian Roxbrugh
HSBC Bank Plc
Canada Square

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam