419 scam: "Barr. Michael Kobindi" <m.kobindi.2009@gmail.com> Business Proposal

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "@lawyer.com" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- michael.kobindi@lawyer.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barr. Michael Kobindi" <m.kobindi.2009@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "Barr. Michael Kobindi" <michael.kobindi@lawyer.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 02:29:37 -0700
Subject: Business Proposal

Hello,

My name is Michael Kobindi. I am the personal lawyer to Mr. Thomas Stone, An American businessman who lost his life in a plane crash on the 31st of Oct 1999.He deposited $30 Million USD with a bank in SA which nobody has put in claim for. All attempts to locate any of his relative all these while have been unsuccessful. I and an insider with the bank have decided to look for a reliable person who is ready and willing to help claim this fund, hence this email.

The plan now is for you to stand in as his Next of Kin to get this funds released to you because the bank has just given a deadline to provide one, or the money will be declared dormant in accordance with the bank's policy. Your help will be appreciated with 30% of the total sum. Please accept my apologies, keep my confidence and disregard this email if you do not appreciate this proposition I have offered you. Write me back however if you're ready to work with us on this project.

Reply to this email address – Michael.kobindi@lawyer.com

Best Regards,

Barr.Michael Kobindi.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam