We received this consumer scam alert from our reader cdavis. There are a number of warning signs in the email below that can help tip you off regarding the scam.

1. The "From" address appears to be HSBC BANK LONDON BRANCH, but it points to an non-HSBC email address (earthlink.net).

2. The "To" field is generic (ie - Attn: Beneficiary). Always a sign of a potential scam.

3. The content of the email relates to a "lottery" award. 10 times out of 10 these are scam emails!

Thanks again to our reader cdavis for alerting us to this scam:

From: "HSBC BANK LONDON BRANCH" <44764543@earthlink.net>
Subject: NOTIFICATION LETTER
Date: Monday, January 12, 2009 7:59 AM

HSBC BANK LONDON
LONDON NW1 3AN U.K.
TEL: +44 702 402 7735 EXT 113
www.hsbc.com

Attn: Beneficiary

We saw your email ( in the Central Computer among the list of unpaid
contractors,inheritance next of kin and lotto beneficiaries that
was originated from Africa, Europe, Asia Plus Middle east, Americans )
among the list of individuals and companies that your unpaid fund has been
located to the HSBC BANK LONDON BRANCH, UNITED KINGDOM.

Your email appeared among the beneficiaries, who will receive a
part-payment of your contractual sum and has been approved already for
months.
You are requested to get back to me for more direction and instruction on
how to receive your fund.

However, we received an email from one Mr. Virgle Lee Samples who told us
that he is your next of kin and that you died in a car accident last
week. He has also submitted his account for us to transfer the fund to him
including his International passport, we want to hear from you before we
can make the transfer to confirm if you are dead or not.

Note you are to Re-confirm this form below for your claim

FULL NAME.:
ADDRESS:
DATE OF BIRTH:
MARITAL STATUS:
SEX:
AGE:
NATIONALITY:
OCCUPATION:
TELEPHONE:
PRIVATE EMAIL:
DATE:
FAX:

Once again, I apologize to you on behalf Of IMF (International Monetary
Fund) for failure to pay your funds in time, which according to records
in the system had been long overdue.

Yours Sincerely,

Mrs. Arin Adams