Doesn't this just reek of e-mail scam? You decide.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

Actually, I know it is a scam, but I'll give them points for imagination.

Date: 15/06/2004


Greetings,

Transfer of Title
Enquiry:H.S.B.C.

My name is Sarah Goram. I work as an executive partner for the firm Dupont consulting Ltd, Investment Brokers and Security Consultants U.K.

We are conducting an end of year consolidated financial statement for the year ending Mar.2004 under conjunctional agreement with H.S.B.C.This notary enquiry involves a client who shares your
surname and also the circumstances surrounding investments made by this client at H.S.B.C.(Republic) A Commercial and Investment arm of the parent Bank.It was brought to our knowledge that the
aformentioned client died in testate and nominated no next of kin to the title over the investments made with the Bank.We came to know of you via the London. Global. Database.Center(L.G.D.C.) Hence we are
making this contact.The essence of this communication with you is to request that you provide us with information on 3 KEY issues.


1. Are you aware of any relative/relation who's last contact address was Brussels, Belgium?
2. Who shares a similiar name?
3. Who's date of birth on file was 27/07/1932?

Thank-you for your time.

Best regards,

Mrs Sarah Goram

E-Mail:[e-mail]

[jukes]

1. scam

got to be. why wd she use a Yahoo account for a legit biz correspondence?



personally, i'd hit the big D.

[molly]

2. Any ligit would send a registered-certified letter

[terrya]

10. Bingo. They wouldn't send something like this in an email.

Please. This reeks to high heaven.

[matcom]

3. this REEKS of Screaming Lord Byron

no wait.

Screaming Lord Byron reeks.

no wait.

Screaming Lord Byron is a scam

no wait.

Scammers reeked Screaming Lord Byron

no wait

:crazy:

[Screaming Lord Byron]

4. I screek of ram.

[Wickerman]

5. OMG

then, when the names matches up they will only need your savings account info so they can send you his millions. Dude, what a deal! What could go wrong?

Hey, DuPont is kinda cheap, they have Sarah use a Yahho account?

[Screaming Lord Byron]

6. I love the non-specific 'had a similar name'

That's the big give away, when they can give no specific details whatsoever. Of course, I could have a 72 year old dead relative in Brussels, couldn't I? Maybe he was loaded. Maybe I'm going to be rich!
:evilgrin:

[tandot]

7. Investment Brokers who uses a free Yahoo email address?

I don't think you.

The whole thing looks like phishing to me. It looks like they are trying to get information about you so they can scam you.

If you are not certain, just write back and ask them to give YOU more information about the whole thing. Especially business address, phone numbers, names of execs., etc.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

8. I like how they link their little scam to a real company like HSBC.

That's pretty ballsy, really.

[Dookus]

9. one clue

is the term "in testate". The word is "intestate" and anybody in her supposed line of work would know that.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

11. The punctuation is lousy, particularly all those unnecessary periods.

I guess they hope to find a lonely gullible senior citizen to prey on. I can't imagine anyone else falling for this stuff.

[terrya]

13. And would it have hurt to use some commas?

A distinct lack of commas. They're not endangered. :-)

[RebelOne]

12. Sounds like a British version of a Nigerian scam

In fact, I bet it really came from Nigeria.

[Guy_Montag]

14. Apart from everything else that's been said...

you could always forward it to HSBC, they might have some rotweillers to set on Mrs. Sarah Goram.

On the other hand you could make some shit up & see what they say in reply.

My greatuncle Charles, Lord Byron. We last heard of him while he was in Brussels, preparing to set off for the Belguim Congo in 1956, and but he was born on 27/07/1934.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

15. So close, Guy. So close.

I did consider forwarding it on to HSBC. Maybe I will. Or maybe I'll send a pretty scary e-mail to the address given. Seeing as Ms. Goram likely doesn't exist, that might be fun. Any ideas for what to put in there? Perhaps I should answer one hoax with another. I could respond with an e-mail from the RCMP or the Canadian Anti-Spam Task Force.

[Guy_Montag]

16. Another option is to

wait until you get sent another con and reply saying:

"While I am unable to help you at this time, my good friend & colleague Mrs. Gorham thinks she will be able to aid you. Her e-mail address is ..."

[Screaming Lord Byron]

17. Smart thinking, Batman.

[tjwash]

18. Damn, and right before those Nigerians were to send me my money...

...you guy's have to burst my bubble.

[bif]

19. Here's an excellent resource

http://www.419eater.com/index.htm