419 scam: MR JOHN KURTY <johnkurty60@gmail.com> USD$3.5Million

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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.

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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:
- "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. )
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
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.

Fraud email example:

From: MR JOHN KURTY <johnkurty60@gmail.com>
Reply-To: MR JOHN KURTY <western.union017@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2015 05:01:37 +0900 (JST)
Subject: USD$3.5Million

From: Mr Douglas Kurty, Manager, Western
Union Money Transfer, World wide.

Hi, Good Day Sir, I am the above named person from Western Union Office MN USA, I am sending this message to inform about the sum of USD$3.5Million (Three Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) I/we received in our Western Union General account from International Monetary Fund (IMF) West Africa. Your full name appeared on the written note as beneficiary.

According to the letter attached to our alert message" International Monetary Fund (IMF) West Africa seized this fund long time ago and after their verification concerning the fund, they sent you an email for notification that the fund is genuine but the message returned back to them as "undelivered message". So few days ago they decided to transfer the total fund to our account for safe keeping.

I supposed to send you this notification last week Friday but it was Thanksgiving day here, so decided to email you today. Kindly respond today with your receivers details as soon as you receive this message. Below is the information we required from you:

Receivers Name:
Address:
State and City:
Zipcode:
Telephone#:

Note that I will be releasing the payment to you $5,000 daily. I wait for your message soon in other to start processing your transfer today. and indicate your name please.

Mr Douglas Kurty,
Manager, Western

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam