419 scam: CAPTAIN JOHN THORPE <ksupra123@gmail.com> URGENT FROM CAPTAIN JOHN THORPE

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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:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
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.
- capt.johnthorpe1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: CAPTAIN JOHN THORPE <ksupra123@gmail.com>
Reply-To: capt.johnthorpe1@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 16 Feb 2014 17:23:13 +0100
Subject: URGENT FROM CAPTAIN JOHN THORPE

Hello Friend,

My Name is Captain Captain John Thorpe. I am an American, a captain in
the US Air force. I am presently serving in Afghanistan. I am a widower
with only one child, a boy. My wife died 6 year ago of a breast cancer, and
my only son is 12 years old and he is presently studying in UK. I know we
do not know each other before now, but I strongly believe that we could be
of a mutual help to each other.*

*I am not proud of what I am about to tell you, but I do not have any safe
option hence I got involved. Few months ago my military colleagues and I
found million of Euros stashed in an apartment here in Afghanistan. I
suggested to my colleagues that we hand over the cash to the appropriate
authority, but most of my colleagues suggested that we share the fund
amongst ourselves. I didn't want to stand alone as opposition so I joined
them to share this fund.*

*I would have reported this matter to the appropriate authority but would
either end up in jail, or be killed by my colleagues or put my little boy
in harm's way, which was not an option for me as I want to see my boy grow
to be a man.*

*I have successfully deposited this fund in a bank in Europe, but I am
afraid that if such amount of money is discovered in my bank account, it
would raise lots of question. So I was advised to relocate the fund into a
different bank account that has nothing to do with me or my name that is
the reason I am contacting you to assist me in providing a bank account in
which I will relocate the fund. I will submit your bank account information
to the bank I deposited the money for onward remittance of the fund to you
as soon as you provided me with a bank account information.*

*I will send the name and contact information of the bank including the
deposit document I received from the bank the day I deposited the fund with
them as soon as you give me your word that you will assist me.*

*I plan to resign from US Air force as soon as the fund is deposited into
your bank account so that I could meet with you and share the fund among
ourselves and maybe enter into business partnership, with you running the
business since I would want to maintain a low profile.*

*I kindly wait for your urgent reply with my Email Contact:
capt.johnthorpe1@gmail.com <capt.johnthorpe1@gmail.com>*

*Yours truthfully,*

*John Thorpe(Captain).*

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam