419 scam: Barrister Augustine Johnson <earthkin321@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 <earthkin321@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <augustinejohnson2@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2014 12:05:58 +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,

Augustinejohnson2@yahoo.co.jp

Direct Telephone: +27748640283

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 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 Augustine Johnson

Augustinejohnson2@yahoo.cojp

Direct Telephone: +27748640283

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam