419 scam: "Mr. Thoftne" <ftpuser@mu-ge-n.jp> VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE

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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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- adams@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Thoftne" <ftpuser@mu-ge-n.jp>
Reply-To: thoftneadams@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 02 Apr 2017 14:47:38 -0700
Subject: VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE

Good day to you.
I am the remittance Director of Emirates NBD Bank my Names are Mr. Thoftn=
e Adams, a Bank Officer in U.A.E. I believe it is the wish of God for me to=
come across you now. I have been in search of someone who I want to work t=
ogether with so when I came across your email, I was pushed to contact you =
and see how best we can assist each other. I have an important business dis=
cussion I wish to share with you which I believe will interest you, because=
it is in connection with a transfer and I know you are going to benefit fr=
om it because this has to do with your LAST NAME. A citizen of the United S=
tates baring same last name with you had a fixed deposit with my bank in 20=
05 for 108 calendar months, valued at US$30,000,000.00 (Thirty Million Unit=
ed States Dollars) the due date for this deposit contract was last 22nd of =
January 2015. Sadly the beneficiary was among the dead victims in a plane c=
rash Flydubai Flight 981 in March 19, 2016 He was in on a business trip to =
Russia and that was how he met his end. You can verify me and the accident:=
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Flydubai_Flight_981 My bank management is y=
et to know about his death, I knew about it because he was my friend and I =
am his account officer. Interestingly he did not mention any Next of Kin/ H=
eir when the account was opened, And he was not married and had no children=
. Last week my Bank Management requested that he should give instructions o=
n what to do about his funds, if to renew the contract. I knew this would h=
appen and that is why I have been looking for a means to handle the situati=
on, because if my Bank Directors happen to know that he is dead and do not =
have any Heir, they will take the funds for their personal use. so I dont w=
ant such to happen. I am now seeking your co-operation to present you as Ne=
xt of Kin/ Heir to the account, and my bank headquarters will release the a=
ccount to you. There is no risk involved; the transaction will be executed =
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any branch of law=
. It is better that we claim the money, than allowing the Bank Directors to=
take it. They are rich already. I am not a greedy person, so I am suggesti=
ng we share the funds equal, 50/50% to both parties, my share will assist m=
e to start my own company which has been my dream. Let me know your mind on=
this and please do treat this information as TOP SECRET. We shall go over =
the details once I receive your urgent response on my private email thoftne=
adams@yahoo.com Anticipating your communication . Regards, Thoftne Adams.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam