419 scam: Barrister Augustine Johnson <weblink233@outlook.com> Immediate Transfer Of $23.5 Million To You

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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)
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +27748640283 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- augustinejohnson2@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Barrister Augustine Johnson <weblink233@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <augustinejohnson2@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2014 14:44:03 +0200
Subject: Immediate Transfer Of $23.5 Million To You

From:
Barrister Augustine Johnson

Address:
2nd Floor, Ned bank Place,

35
Sauer Street, Johannesburg,

Republic Of South
Africa.

Email:
{ augustinejohnson2@yahoo.co.jp)

Direct
Phone Number +27748640283

My
Dear Friend,

It
is with trust and sincerity that I approach you for assistance to transfer some
funds into your bank account. Please do accept my apology if my mail infringes
on your personal ethics. My name is Augustine Johnson. A Private Lawyer based
here in Johannesburg South Africa. Honestly it will be my
humble pleasure if we can work together.

I
would like you to act as the next of kin to my deceased client, a citizen of
your country, who made a deposit of $23.5 million only with a Bank here in Johannesburg few years
back. He died in a plane crash with his immediate family in a plane crash
without any registered next of kin and as such the funds now have an open
beneficiary mandate with a Bank, This means that any person from your country
can act as the next of kin of the deceased person for claiming the inheritance
funds without any risk involved.

More,so,I
have received official letter from the bank suggesting a likely proceeding for
confiscation of the Fund in line with existing laws by the bank in which my
client deposited the sum of $23.5 Million Dollars . According to the Government
Law as provided in section 129 sub 63(N), South African Banking Edit of 1961 at
the expiration of 11 years the fund will revert to the ownership of the South
African Government, if nobody applies to claim the fund.

My
proposition to you is to present you to the bank as the Next of kin and
beneficiary of my deceased client so that the bank will pay this $23.5 million
to you so that we can share the amount on a mutually agreed percentage of 60%
for me 40% for you.

All
legal documents to back up your claim as the deceased Next of Kin will be
provided by me. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this
transaction through. I guarantee you that this will be executed under a
legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

If
you are interested in this transactions, Please do let me know immediately so
that I can give you comprehensive details on how to proceed.

Regards,

Barrister
Augustine Johnson

Email:
augustinejohnson2@yahoo.co.jp

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam