419 scam: "Mr. John Bruno" <joyjoyjoycitii@hotmail.com> PLEASE TREAT AS CONFIDENTIAL!

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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:
- "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)
- "international remittance department" (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 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.
- +447031990967 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. John Bruno" <joyjoyjoycitii@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: bruno_citii_uk2014@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2014 20:41:09 +0500
Subject: PLEASE TREAT AS CONFIDENTIAL!

My name is Mr.John Bruno from Brondesbury, North West London here in UK, I work for Citibank 25 Canada Square, canary Wharf London UK, as international Remittance Director.

In my department as international Remittance Director I discovered an abandoned sum of $50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million United States Dollars) in an account that belongs to one of our oversea customer Late Anthony A. Zoccali who unfortunately lost his life in a car accident including his wife and only son.

It is very well known to me that during the time the account was opened by our late customer Anthony Zoccali he did not specify any name as his NEXT of KIN in an event as unfortunate as death like this, right now the bank has tried to contact anyone related to him through the Australian consulate but to no avail because he was an Australian citizen.

The bank will close the account very soon as unclaimed funds, and will convert it into banks profit, I then have decided to look for someone who will accept to work with me as my partner to claim this funds as the beneficiary with my assistance as the bank senior staff on the international remittance department.

This is why I contacted you through the internet to seek your co-operation to work with me, I will provide you with the documents that you need to make this claim, and also I will make sure the funds is approved to you from the inside as a senior staff, because I have such influence, and once the fund is released to you no one can ever come forward ever in the future to talk about the funds.

We will share it equally, you will take $25,000,000.00 and I will take $25,000,000.00, every expenses that will be incurred will be covered equally by the both of us ,and this whole transaction must be kept confidential till the end and thereafter, for our own security.

I can assure you that this will be very successful because I have experience, and I work here also as a senior staff, I will retire very soon and I will want my retirement to be an enjoyable retirement after so many years of working as a banker.

All I require now is your honest Co-operation, Confidentiality ,and Trust to enable us finalize this transaction within few days, I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law, I want you to understand that I have worked in this bank for 19 years, and I have the knowledge on how to make this work.

To indicate your interest Send to me your complete contact details ,and identifications to enable me start the process.

1. Mobile Number..............................
2. Office Number..............................
3. Fax Number.................................
4. Residential Address........................

I will sincerely hope for you to read, and reply with understanding.

Respectfully Yours,

John Bruno
Direct Line: +44 703 199 0967.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam