Email Fraud Alert received from: Colleen
I recently received an email with this subject line: Outstanding Funds and I am concerned that it could be an attempt at defrauding me. Let me know in the comments section what you think, please.
The full contents of the suspected fraudulent (phishing / scamming) e-mail appear below:
Dear Beneficiary,
My name is Alisha Macleod, a wealth manager and computer analyst that works with NatWest
Private Banking in United Kingdom. I humbly contact you regarding the estate of a deceased client
with a similar last name and an investment placed under our banks management. I respectfully
request that you keep the contents of this mail confidential and respect the integrity of the
information you come by as a result of this mail. I contact you independently through my personal
email address and no one is informed of this communication.
In 2000, Mr. Philip came to our bank to engage in business discussions with our private banking
division. He informed us that he had a financial portfolio of GBP5, 500,000.00 million Great British
Pounds, which he wished to have us invest on his behalf; Based on my advice, we spun the money
around various opportunities and made attractive margins for our first six months of operation, the
accrued profit and interest stood at this point at over GBP150, 000 Great Britain Pounds. In late
2003, he instructed that the principal sum (5.5M) be liquidated because he needed to make an
urgent investment requiring cash payments in Antwerp, Belgium. He directed that I liquidate the
funds and had it deposited with a security consultancy firm based in London, United Kingdom. The
firm is an especially private firm that accepts deposits from high net worth individuals and blue chip
corporations that handle valuable products, or undertake transactions that need immediate access to
cash. However the firm got in touch with us early this year, informing us that this money has not
been claimed. On further enquiries we found out that Mr. Philip was involved in an accident in
Cannes, South of France. If you are familiar with private banking affairs, those who patronize our
services usually prefer anonymity. Private banking clients usually in most cases leave wills in our
care, in this case; Mr. Philip died intestate. He has no next of kin and the reason I am writing you is
because you share the same last name.
What I propose is that since I have exclusive access to his file, you will be made the beneficiary of
these funds. I am prepared to instruct the security firm to release the deposit to you as the closest
surviving relative. Upon receipt of the deposit, I am willing to share the money with you 50/50.
You do not have to have known Philip to be able to carry out this transaction with me. I know this
might be a bit heavy for you but please trust me on this. In the banking circle this happens every
time. The other option is that the money will revert back to the state. Nobody is getting hurt; this is
a lifetime opportunity for us. I hold the KEY to these funds, and from my years as a banker, we see
so much cash and funds being re-assigned daily.
Please, again, note I am a family woman; I have a husband and children. I send you this mail not
without a measure of fear as to the consequences, but I know within me that nothing ventured is
nothing gained and that success and riches never come easy or on a platter of gold. This is the one
truth I have learned from my private banking clients. Do not betray my confidence. If we can be of
one accord, we should act swiftly on this. Please get back to me as soon as possible through this
private email (alisha.macleod@outlook.com) for further details.
Best regards.
Alisha Macleod.
The above email was sent by “Alisha Macleod” from this email address: alishamacleod996@yahoo.pt
I, Colleen, have the following thoughts/comments on this suspected fraudulent email message from “Alisha Macleod”:
Sorry Alisha – I just had to betray your misguided confidence in me and tell the whole world.