Anatomy of an Inheritance Scam: A message in Messenger

 I have heard of several scams years ago and have been wary about them. The early versions were so vulgar and obvious, that it was pretty easy to avoid them. But this one really had me by the balls when it started. I first received this message in Messenger about two weeks ago and I am sharing it so that others may be wary too and not fall into the same trap. Here's the message 

Thanks for Accepting my Request, i must commend you

I have been in search of someone with this last name ________ so when i saw your profile on Facebook I decided to add you and write to you this message to see how best we can assist each other. I am Mr. ___________,  a bank Officer here in Bangkok Thailand with United Oversea Bank (UOB). I believe it is the wish of God for me to come across you now. I am having an important business discussion I wish to share with you which I believe will interest you, because it is in connection with your last name/nationality and you are going to benefit from it.

One Late Allen ________, a citizen of your country who was in Gold business here in Bangkok had a fixed deposit with my bank in 2007 for 108 calendar months, valued at US$5,500,000.00 (Five Million Five Hundred United State Dollars) the due date for this deposit was last 22nd of January 2014. Sadly Allen Justimbaste was among the victims in the recent Air_Crash in Russia involving sixty two passengers in the Central Region of Rostov On Don.

My bank management is yet to know about his death, I knew about this because i was his account officer. He did not mention any Next of Kin/Heir when the account was opened, and he was not married and no relative was found. Last week my Bank Management had a meeting for a bank verification exercise to note dormant and abandoned deposit accounts. I know this will happen and that is why I have been looking for a means to handle the situation, because if my Bank Directors happen to discover his death, The bank will divert the funds for their head directors to share. So I don't want such to happen. That was why when I saw your details, I was happy.

I am now seeking your co-operation to present you as Next of Kin/ Heir to the account, since you have the same last name and same nationality with him and my bank headquarters will release the account to you through my help. There is no risk involved; the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. It is better that we claim the money, than allowing the Bank Directors to divert it and share among themselves. I am not a greedy person, so I am suggesting we share the funds, 40/50% for you and i respectively and 10% will be used to refund any payment made during the transfer process. I hope my own share of the money will assist me to start my own company which has been my dream. Let me know your mind on this and please do treat this information confidential. I shall give you more details once I receive your urgent response through my personal Email. 

address below. (an email address)

Best Regards

(A name of someone whose identity was stolen)

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