419 scam: "Mr. Albert James" <ministryofeconomicproperty01@gmail.com> ABOUT YOUR FUND RELEASE

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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:
- ",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)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- citibnkinternationalplc@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Albert James" <ministryofeconomicproperty01@gmail.com>
Reply-To: citibnkinternationalplc@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 23:12:27 +0100
Subject: ABOUT YOUR FUND RELEASE

CITI BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC
Address: 1775 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006
SWIFT (BIC): CITIUS33
Founded: 1812
U.S.A

Good Day

RE:INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF US$28,000,000.00

We at this bank wishes to congratulate and to inform you that after
thorough review and evaluation of your Inheritance/Contract funds in
conjunction with the World Bank Auditor General and the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) assessment reports, your payment file was forwarded to
us for immediate transfer of the above quoted amount to your designated
bank account from their offshore account with us.

The reports given to us shows that you have been going through hard times
by paying a lot of money to see to the release of your funds, which has
been delayed by some dubious officials. We therefore advice that you stop
further communication with any correspondence outside this office since you
do not have to pay any money or fee to receive your inheritance/Contract
funds as you have met up with the whole funds transfer requirements.

The only thing we required from you is to obtain an Approval Letter from
the US department of the treasury to enable us credit your account directly
via telegraphic transfer or through any of our corresponding banks and send
copies of the funds transfer release documents to you and your bankers for
confirmation.

Should you follow our directives, your funds will be credited and reflect
in your account within Two (2) bank working days from the day you obtain
this Approval Letter. For further details and assistance on this Remittance
Notification, kindly forward your FULL NAME AND CONTACT ADDRESS,TELEPHONE
and FAX NUMBERS directly to this mail box.
citibnkinternationalplc@gmail.com

Yours Faithfully
Mr. Albert James
Remittance Director.
CITI BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam