419 scam: "HSBC BANK"<info@yahoo.com> HSBC Bank PLC London

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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:

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:
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "transfer into your account" (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)
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
- "brianli@netvigator.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +2348082231821 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "HSBC BANK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <artusoeb@speedy.com.ar>
Date: Sat, 2 May 2020 06:23:33 -0700
Subject: HSBC Bank PLC London

HSBC Bank PLC London
The Helicon, 1 South Pl, London EC2M 2UP, United Kingdom

Attention: Beneficiary

This is second time we are notifying you about the statue of your fund right now in my desk. After due vetting and evaluation of your Inheritance file which The Ministry of Finance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Forwarded and contacted us to see to your immediate payment.

We write to inform you that this office has arrange all the necessary document for our Telex Department for immediate programming them into our payment system .But we can not transfer the fund into your account yet until you get the (NON RESIDENTIAL CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE) submit to this bank for immediately transfer into your account, We shall update you with next correspondence as soon as we confirm the documents.

Thanks for your co-operation From our findings you have been going through hard ways by paying a lot of charges to see to the release of your fund ($18, 000, 000, 00) which has been delayed. We advice that you stop further communication with any correspondence from Nigeria. You don't have to pay any charges to receive your Inheritance fund anymore as you have met up with the whole requirements, your representatives in Nigeria will tell you to still go ahead with them but on your own risk.

The only thing required from you is to obtain Non-Resident Clearance Certificate which we are not asking you to pay the fee to us here in United Kingdom as the Government of Nigeria have paid us for handling/processing of your payment with other customers. We will help you to see that you obtain the (NON RESIDENTIAL CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE) so that our bank will affect immediate transfer of your Inheritance sum ($18,000, 000, 00) in to your designated bank account.

You have to contact Our representatives in Nigeria with information below.

Name : Lawyer BRIAN DAVIS(Esq)
Email: brianli@netvigator.com
Call him on +2348082231821

If you follow up our directives your fund will reflect in your account within five working Bank days from the day you obtain this form. Do not go through anybody again but through this Bank if you really want your fund.

Head, Private Banking Section.
Ed, Foreign Payments
yours sincerely,
Mrs, Frances Howell.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam