419 scam: Michael Topez <johncroft74@gmail.com> Hello Beneficiary

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",500,000" (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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: Michael Topez <johncroft74@gmail.com>
Reply-To: drmichaeltopez@investbkltd.ml
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2023 23:03:01 -0700
Subject: Hello Beneficiary

From The Regional Manager!

Dear Friend,

My name is Mr. Michael Topez. I am a banker and a regional manager of a
bank. I need your help to transfer a sum of US$7,500,000.00 into your
account as my foreign partner. The fund is part of the profits made by our
bank over the past 4 years in the branch where I am the manager. I have
already submitted an annual report for last year to my bank headquarters,
and they overlooked the excess profits. I deposited this US$7,500,000.00 in
an escrow account without a beneficiary (Anonymous), to avoid any trace.

I cannot be directly connected to this fund because I'm still working with
the bank. So, I need your help to transfer these funds into your account in
your country for you and me to share. I offer you 50% of these funds as my
foreign partner and 50% will be for me. There is no risk because it will be
a bank-to-bank transfer. So, I want you to stand as the owner of this fund
so that you can present a foreign bank account where the funds can be
transferred to you as my foreign partner.

If you accept this proposal, I am prepared to partner with you. Please
kindly reply to me for more information on how to proceed.

sincerely,
Mr. Michael Topez.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam