Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Beware of this "dream" genealogy client!

My email this morning included an email from someone I don't know, and which is a SCAM similar to other banking scams. It has a genealogy twist to it - someone has intentionally targeted me because I have the same last name:

The email, titled "I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE PLEASE ... Randy Seaver," started:

"I am Richardson, an attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, by name Mr James Seaver, who shall be referred to as my client, died as the result of a heart-related condition on the 11th November, 2004. His heart condition was due to the death of all the members of his family in the Gulf Air Flight Crashes in Persian Gulf Near Bahrain Aired August 23, 2000 - 2:50 p.m. ET as reported on: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0008/23/bn.08.html.

"I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my client which the bank wanted to confiscate, where this deposit valued at 7.3 million dollars is lodged. This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin before i could lodge the money into security company, or the account will be confiscated. My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client, since you have the same last name, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you from the security company. Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage i will take 60% while you take 40%. All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will be provided.

"All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from many breach of the law. If this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology. I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinary confidential, whatever your decision, while I await your prompt response.

"Please contact me at once to indicate your interest. I will like you to acknowledge the receipt of this e-mail as soon as possible, this transaction will be treated private with absolute confidentiality and sincerity. I look forward to your quick reply. Come to malaysia to witness every thing if you are not bussy but if you are busssy we can do it online with the bank, or contact me immediately i can still give you detail and prove of the statement of his account as it was deposited in the Bank and also his death certificate, please it will not cost you any thing is just for you to comply and help for this money to transfer into your account in your country."

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The CNN article is real, but no mention is made of a Seaver. There is a Beaver mentioned, but not a Seaver.

Other than the spelling and grammar errors, it appears that "Richardson" is asking me to commit fraud. I have half a mind to respond to this asking for a copy of the death certificate so that I can find the real heir from my vast wealth of Seaver surname information.

But then I realized that this is a pure scam intended for me to put my own money in a bank and this guy will suck my bank account dry faster than I can say Lake CHARGOGGAGOGGMANCHAUGGAGOGGCHAUBUNAGUNGAMAUGG.

Anybody else receive an email like this? forewarned is forearmed!

2 comments:

wendy said...

That's why I like the delete key! Even responding creates more scam email.

Unknown said...

Randy,

This is a common scam not only do they try to suck the account dry but it also gives them credential with US banks and is big identity theft issue. I was a police officer for many years and saw this on nearly a weekly basis, and as stupid as this scam is on it's face it does suck people in. Some on greed, but they also intentional target elderly and try to enlist there "help with a problem". The big one that is more common out there is the deposed leader of "XYZ" country his wife trying to save there limited funds and just needs help to smuggle hundreds or million of dollar out of the country, and if you help her she'll give you some of it. Con Artist Everywhere.

Sherwood Lake