419 scam: "Citigroup (Switzerland)" <citigroup.international@yahoo.com> CITI

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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:
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
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.
- citigroupprocessingoffice@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Citigroup (Switzerland)" <citigroup.international@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: citigroupnoticecentre101@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 00:07:58 -0000 (GMT)
Subject: CITI

Citigroup (Switzerland)
16, Quai G?n?ral-Guisan
P.O. Box 3946
CH-1211 Geneva 3
Switzerland.

Dear Beneficiary,

Citigroup International is a Multi-Million groups which is one of the top
10 richest company in the world was conceived with the objective of Human
Growth, Educational and Community development. In line with the 30th year
anniversary program this year which was also used as a medium to expose
Citigroup Africa to the world.

Citigroup International is giving out a yearly donation of Two Million
United States Dollars through it's Africa unit as specific Donations/Grants
to 100 lucky international recipients worldwide in different categories
for their personal Business development and uplift of their environment.
These funds are freely given to you to be used for your business, educational
and personal development, and at least 30% to be used by you to develop a
part of your environment, as this is a yearly program,
which is a measure of universal development strategy, and eradication
of poverty.

With the random selection exercise of internet websites and
millions of Super market cash invoices worldwide, you were
selected among the lucky recipients to receive the award sum of
US$2,000,000.00 (Two Million United States Dollars) as charity
Grant/aid from Citigroup International.
(Note that your email was selected from either the
internet, after absolute viewing of your profile or a Shop's cash
invoice around your area in which you might have purchased
something from).

Furthermore, copied to this email is a Citigroup Grant
documentation form, requesting your required particulars.
You are to immediately fill the form and return as soon
as possible, to the Grant Redemption Unit
Mr. Stephane Sandro via email E-mail: citigroupprocessingoffice@yahoo.com.hk

CLAIMS VERIFICATION FORM

*** FULL NAMES:.............
*** ADDRESS:................
*** SEX:....................
*** AGE:....................
*** MARITAL STATUS:.........
*** OCCUPATION:.............
*** E-MAIL ADDRESS:.........
*** TELEPHONE NUMBER:.......
*** CITY:...................
*** STATE:..................
*** COUNTRY:................
*** How do you feel as a beneficiary:...............

For Security Reasons you are advised to keep this Grant information
confidential until you have claimed the grant funds,
as there have been many cases of double and
unqualified claim, due to beneficiaries informing third parties
about his/her donation funds with valued information for claims.

Yours Faithfully
Mr. Stephane Sandro

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam