Fraudsters go old-school for inheritance scam attempt

A MACLEAN man was surprised to find a letter to be from Dah Sing Bank, and that he could stand to inherit $62 million from a man who shared the same surname

SCAM: A letter a Maclean man received in the mail, claiming he could stand to inherit $62 million from a business tycoon who shared the same surname. Picture: Jarrard Potter

IT SEEMS scammers are going back to snail mail, and springing for Royal Mail postage, in an attempt to convince people to part from their hard-earned dollars.

A Maclean man was puzzled to find a letter in his mailbox this week claiming to be from Hong Kong financial institution Dah Sing Bank, informing him the misfortune of one man with the same surname could lead to him being $62 million richer.

You see, according to the letter, Matt Wong, who is the "Chairman Commercial banking division" of Dah Sing Bank was on a "quest for a last name similar to that of a last customer from my bank".

Apparently, this customer suffered a "ghastly motor accident" and died, before he could appoint a next of kin.

Luckily for the Maclean man, "a lump sum deposit of $62,478,850.00 was placed under my bank's custody for safe keeping".

"On the condition that you bear the same last name with the deceased customer, it has prompted me to present you as his next of kin to apply and claims (sic) the deposit he had with my bank, to avoid the confiscation of the said funds by the authorities and returned to the treasury of the Bank of China as unclaimed proceeds of trade and deposit from late customers," the letter said.

SCAM: A letter a Maclean man received in the mail, claiming he could stand to inherit $62 million from a business tycoon who shared the same surname. Picture: Jarrard Potter

No need to worry though, as this unsolicited claim of incredible good fortune is all "100 per cent legal and risk free".

The ACCC's Scamwatch website reports $10,690 was lost by Australian consumers last month alone to inheritance scams, with 244 reports made to the government body.

The catch? Mr Wong only wanted 55 per cent of the $62 million fortune, with five per cent to be set aside for "charitable works".

No wonder he was willing to spring for the Royal Mail postage.

For more details on inheritance scams, visit the Scamwatch website.

Originally published as Fraudsters go old-school for inheritance scam attempt