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March 17, 2008

Email Scam Invokes NPR Benefactor Joan Kroc

I never thought I'd see an NPR reference in a so-called 419 fraud email scam, but apparently there's now a fraud scheme making its way around that pretends to be "the Joan B. Kroc Foundation." Kroc, you may recall, was the widow of McDonalds restaurant magnate Ray Kroc who left more than $200 million to National Public Radio in her will. The scam claims to be doling out cash to nonprofit groups. If you respond, they'll end up demanding a hefty processing fee or even direct access to your bank accounts.

Here's the text of the email:

JOAN B. KROC FOUNDATION 03/15/2008 07:30 AM Please respond to dkofi@live.com

Subject: Your Grant.

JOAN B. KROC FOUNDATION
Registered in England & Wales (No. 2826074) 15 High Street, London, NW8 7NG (UK) United Kingdom
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Tel/Fax: +44 703 1935 095
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Dear Sir/ Madam,

We wish to inform you that the above foundation has short-listed you for the grant of US$550,000.00 for your humanitarian/organizational activities; this grant is in recognition of your programmes and activities. Mrs. Kroc, who died on October 12, 2003, at age 75, left $1.91 billion to 10 organizations.She was the widow of Ray A. Kroc, the founder of the McDonald's Corporation. Her gifts were: $1.5billion to the Salvation Army, in Alexandria, Va., to construct and endow up to 50 recreational and educational facilities across the United States and UK; $200 million to National Public Radio to support the network's operating reserves and endowment; $60-million to Ronald McDonald House Charities to be distributed to its programs worldwide; $50 million to the University of Notre Dame to support the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies; $50-million to the University of San Diego to establish the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice; $20 million to San Diego Hospice and Palliative Care to support its programs and services; $10 million to the San Diego Opera to support artistic programming; $5 million to KPBS radio and television, in San Diego, to establish an endowment and operating reserve and create a capital-equipment fund; $5 million to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Diegoto build a high school; and $500,000 to Mama's Kitchen, a meal-delivery service in San Diego for people with AIDS. Before her death, Mrs. Kroc gave $5 million to the University of San Diego to endow a lecture series at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice.You're therefore requested to contact Kofi Daneils either by e-mail: dkofi@live.com or call: +233 245411574 for details and procedure to obtain your grant.

Sincerely,
Ms Anne Brown
UK Foundation Secretary.
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JOAN B. KROC FOUNDATION USA Office (Head Office):- 2435 California Ave. Seattle
Washington 98116 USA. Fax: +1 (413) 376-2751
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Hat tip to Pat Aufderheide of the Center for Social Media for passing it along. -andy

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Posted by acarvin at March 17, 2008 9:20 AM

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