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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 USA BANK <markwalter724@gmail.com>
Reply-To: officialhsbcbanking.usa@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2023 19:59:24 +0000
Subject: Attention Beneficiary

--
452Fifth Avenue, New York City,
New York, USA
Direct email: officialhsbcbanking.usa@gmail.com



Attention Beneficiary:

In our office today, they was a present of One Mrs. Vanessa Woods of 1820
Lancaster Blvd W Lancaster CA.93534 USA applying contrary to your pending
fund transfer. The above-mentioned person visited this Bank yesterday with
a power of attorney given in her favor by your good self, granting her the
benefit to process and claims your inheritance of $1,500,000.00(one
Million Five Hundred United States Dollars Only) for personal reasons.

She further Stated that the online account should be terminated while the
fund should be wired to her personal Bank account with Bank Of America,
Routing Number 121000358. Our office has asked Mrs. Vanessa Woods to return
to the Bank within 48hours to enable us have a personal confirmation from
you being hitherto the beneficiary. You are hereby advised to confirm the
following information to ensure a proper verification:

1, Full Name.
2, Resident Address.
3, Occupation.
4, Phone & Fax: Number.
5, Private Email:
6, A-scan Copy of Your Passport/Driver's License

We are sorry to delay your instruction in giving out this fund since we
must adhere to the modus operandi of this honorable bank by making sure
this request is verified and confirmed by the beneficiary and his existing
attorney. Your confirmation of the above will be appreciated. We look
forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. Ewen Stevenson
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Anti-fraud resources: