419 scam: test@toprank.tokyo Dear Customer

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "foreign exchange" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +22998507881 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: test@toprank.tokyo
Reply-To: mimosakodjo@yandex.com
Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2017 13:03:16 -0700
Subject: Dear Customer

Bank of Africa Bénin (BOA),
Address: BP 08-0879, Ave Pape Jean Paul II,
Cotonou, Benin Republic

Attention: Beneficiary

It has become necessary to inform you that your fund payment will be executed from our investment portfolio from our sister bank from Ghana, the Guaranty Trust Bank.. The reason for this arrangement is as a result of shortfall in our foreign exchange earning that has affected our external foreign reserve negatively.

Based on the above as explained, we are short of foreign exchange to cover our obligations and commitments. Your payment will be done from our investment portfolio in GTB under our assets management managers.
The plan is to open a NON RESIDENT BANK ACCOUNT with your full details with GTB and this account will be credited with full amount belonging to you.

I will give you further details upon receipt of your response to this mail. You are to reconfirm and send to me the following:

Full Names, Country of Origin, Country of Residence, Telephone Number, Next of Kin, Full Address in Country of Residence, and Scanned copy of International Passport/National ID.

Please send the information directly to the officer in charge at the bank at:
Ms Anne Lynn/Mr Emmanuel Fabrice
Foreign Payment Direct
Bank Of Africa (BOA), Benin
Email: officedesk@bankof-africa.net
Phone: +22998507881
===================================================================
Yours Faithfully
Kodjo Mimosa
Financial Consultant to BOA
Benin

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam