419 scam: John Khune <barry_smith0011@hotmail.com> Fund Transfer of US$23.5million Dollars

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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.

Fraud email example:

From: John Khune <barry_smith0011@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <khune.john@live.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2013 11:51:32 +0000
Subject: Fund Transfer of US$23.5million Dollars

From: Barrister John Khune
Address: 2nd Floor, Ned bank Place,
35 Sauer Street, Johannesburg,
Republic Of South Africa.

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 John Khune, 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 Mr.
Andreas Schranner, a German citizen 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 12 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 contact me so that I
can call you to give you comprehensive details on how to proceed.

Regards,
Barrister John Khune

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam