419 scam: John Burns <"dept.forreignaffairs."@citromail.hu> PAYMENT REF: UNIFRO-UK/103/18-3-CLIENT-966/15

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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:
- "activation fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- +22962254067 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- dept.forriegnaffairs@citromail.hu (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: John Burns <"dept.forreignaffairs."@citromail.hu>
Reply-To: John Burns <dept.forreignaffairs@citromail.hu>
Date: Sun, 3 Dec 2017 00:42:39 +0900 (JST)
Subject: PAYMENT REF: UNIFRO-UK/103/18-3-CLIENT-966/15

Directorate of International Payments and Transfers
Debt Reconciliation Committee
United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC)
PAYMENT REF: UNIFRO-UK/103/18-3-CLIENT-966/15

Dear Esteemed Customer,
Its me John, western union office accountant, We have observed a decline in your account transaction for your incomes and your outstanding payment which audit report that you have had difficult times to Check the posting which were postponed by some dubious officials, You have Today till next week to pay up your clearance activation fee which was asked some time ago to enable you make instant withdrawal from this $15000 which has been placed available in your name by UN,

Notification was passed earlier that your fund which has been located to a suspense account was triggered based on the information from two foreigners (Mr.Tim Parker and Mr. Rowland Gulf) whom visited our office in your stead to inform us that they are your representatives from the United State, whom you delegated as beneficiaries to collect your Funds in your absence.

We do not understand why you sent these men to come and Collect your Funds on your behalf but due to the rise in international financial crimes and the many complaint we have received and addressed in recent years, we in collaboration with IMF are the team of experts that henceforth monitor and supervise international financial payments. So because of this, we will not want to make any mistake in releasing More Funds to anyone except you who is the recognized file No 966/15 by UN Office.

We have re-posted $15,000 available from the account just 10 minutes ago, Text question and answer is same as before, Kindly clarify us on this issue before we make this Payment to these foreigners, $5000 is per each MTCN details, is splits into 3 trances

MTCN 212-314-5321
MTCN 805-217-7898
MTCN 968-584-3300

Forward all response to dept.forriegnaffairs@citromail.hu Cus we dont want to make any mistake again, As your Relationship Manager I am available to improve on the relationship with the bank management open your response, Call for the sender NAME on +229 622 54067 to fix your name back as receiver while you balance your 250 reactivation to your earliest opportunity Today,..... You should count yourself extremely lucky because its once in a life time fortune and i pray you don$B!G(Bt stand to lose the chance because is a grace of one week and privilege, therefore it must not be abused, Concentrate to pick up this transfer today rather than responding in negative thoughts.

Sincerely

Mr John Burns
Public Information Officer

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam