I got a weird email.

[bfdd]

Now let me preface that this was in my spam folder, which I check every once in awhile as sometimes things get turned into spam or I just want to clear it out. I caught this email subjected "Private Investigation" from a Michael Baer of Switzerland. My fathers side is Swiss immigrants from the mid/late 1800s so I was curious. This is what I got.

from: Michael Baer mbaer@swissmail.com
reply-to: mich.baer01@gmail.com

Good day,


I hope you receive the mail in good time. Permit me to introduce myself since we have not had any previous correspondence in the past. My name is Michael Baer, Director of Operations Falcon Private Bank Ltd, Switzerland. We are conducting a standard process investigation on behalf of "Falcon Group", the International Banking conglomerate of Falcon Private Bank AG Ltd Switzerland. This investigation involves a deceased customer and the circumstances surrounding investments made by the deceased customer at Falcon Private bank. Before this, I would like to intimate you with details. In July of 2007, the Swiss Bankers Association published a list of dormant accounts originally opened by non-Swiss citizens in different banks in Switzerland. In my bank I came across this account that has the same surname with yours which is why I needed to make this contact with you for your for your partnership to invest in your country.


This accounts has been dormant for the past four (4) years with no possible record of the beneficiary. During my private investigation I discovered that you bear the same surname with the deceased customer and can be link to the account legitimately. This process is completely legal and risk free, your role is to represent the deceased as beneficiary to the funds as the surviving relative and family heir. I shall facilitate the legal deeds to backup every claim.


Be informed that I have been mandated by the Claims Resolution Tribunal to report all unclaimed funds in my bank for permanent closure of accounts and transfer of existing credit balance into the treasury of Switzerland Government as provided by the law for management of assets of deceased beneficiaries who died interstate (living no wills) without records. Your earliest response to this email will be highly appreciated, if we can be of one accord, we should plan a meeting soon.


Kind Regards,


Michael Baer

Found Michael Baer, who is associated with Falcon Private Bank, on BusinessWeek. Looked them up they have a webpage and I've found annual reports hosted on an HK server. Checked out the emails can't really find anything suspicious about them on Google, so I'm really kind of curious as to wtf this is. Might not actually be spam. Any recommendations on how I can handle this or anyone else want to help me do some more digging?

 

[Saint Nick]

IMO, I'd never trust anyone with such a claim in an e-mail. I'd rather them call me and tell me.

If I were you, I'd try to find this dude's phone number, call him up, and see what exactly WTF he is talking about.

Not legit.

 

[TheSpy007]

Found this about the Claims Resolution Tribunal
www.crt-ii.org/Process to allow Nazi victims or their heirs to claim assets deposited in Swiss banks before and during World War II.

 

[johnjohn320]

You're gullible.

 

[bfdd]

Found this about the Claims Resolution Tribunal
www.crt-ii.org/Process to allow Nazi victims or their heirs to claim assets deposited in Swiss banks before and during World War II.

My girlfriend and I have been looking at that as well. She's currently scouring the internet for more information. I just replied with a short polite email stating that I'm wary of these kinds of things, but am curious how I may be of service.

 

[lxskllr]

Really?! Substitute "Nigeria" with "Switzerland", add better than average grammar, and you have the same scam that's been going on since email has existed.

 

[GoPackGo]

Big financial guy in Switzerland uses this Domain for his email:

http://www.swissmail.com/

 

[bfdd]

Really?! Substitute "Nigeria" with "Switzerland", add better than average grammar, and you have the same scam that's been going on since email has existed.

Truth, except I actually I am actually of Swiss ancestry as my family came over in 1865 right after the civil war had ended.

I'm not actually going to give this guy any information. If they actually cared I'm sure they could find someone with my last name there and this is most likely a scam. I just like baiting this kind of crap as I find it funny as someone who used to be into social engineering in his teens.

 

[Schfifty Five]

c'mon bfdd, seriously?

 

[Tweak155]

Conveniently never using a name. How convenient.

 

[Perknose]

Do0d, if he were contacting you on official business, he wouldn't be doing so on a swissmail account, he would be doing so through his company's e-mail.

And he wouldn't be asking you to reply to a different, gmail account, either.

This spammer has likely provided different return e-mail accounts and linked them to slightly different pitches, in order to see which work the best.

Don't fall for this. Don't be that guy.

The sly wisdom of WC Fields bears repeating here, "You can't cheat an honest man."

 

[bfdd]

Conveniently never using a name. How convenient.

right? that's pretty weak, plus the reply to a gmail from an already suspicious email? it's rather silly

 

[dighn]

I would expect matters of this nature to be communicated through actual mail, not e-mail, let alone swissmail/gmail.

 

[darkewaffle]

Swiss has nothing to do with your history but rather people thinking of Swiss bank accounts as fat and juicy.

 

[Merad]

Look, things like this would not be randomly sent to your email address. I doubt they'd even do a phone call unless it was very urgent to contact you. They would be sending an actual letter on letterhead and so on, and would likely send it via registered mail or similar.

 

[djnsmith7]

Quoted:

"During my private investigation I discovered that you bear the same surname with the deceased customer and can be link to the account legitimately."

How can he make this claim without verifying your full name, SSN, DOB, current & previous address, "with no possible record of the beneficiary"?

Sure, he claims it was all done through his "private investigation", but there is some serious nonsense in his email.

 

[bfdd]

Yeah djnsmith, you'd think if they were doing a private investigation they would have a little bit more information about me and I agree about the regular mail thing.

 

[dank69]

for your for your ... this accounts ... can be link ...

No really you're going to be a millionaire. Cheers!

 

[momeNt]

Consider this. How did they get your email to contact you!

You've been scammed!

 

[Itchrelief]

When I was 12, I thought I was a millionaire for a few months because I got that mailing from the Publisher's Clearinghouse.

edit: yeah, I was stupid for my age (probably still am!)

 

[BoomerD]

Completely legit. Go ahead and contact him...be sure to provide him with all the information he requests.

What's the worst that could happen?

 

[bfdd]

I was actually wondering if it was possession, as per the Claims Resolution Tribunal connection not money, but it does sound like they're trying to say it's money now.

lol @ momeNt, what do you mean how did they get my email? You can get someones email rather easily doing a little Google-Fu on their name.

 

[momeNt]

I was actually wondering if it was possession, as per the Claims Resolution Tribunal connection not money, but it does sound like they're trying to say it's money now.

lol @ momeNt, what do you mean how did they get my email? You can get someones email rather easily doing a little Google-Fu on their name.

Yea but that's an odd way to make first contact. Unless you are in sales and somebody is contacting you to like make a purchase or find out about products or services.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Michael Baer mbaer@swissmail.com
reply-to: mich.baer01@[B]gmail.com[/B]

Why would he legitimately want you to respond to gmail rather than his work account?

 

[halik]

Now let me preface that this was in my spam folder, which I check every once in awhile as sometimes things get turned into spam or I just want to clear it out. I caught this email subjected "Private Investigation" from a Michael Baer of Switzerland. My fathers side is Swiss immigrants from the mid/late 1800s so I was curious. This is what I got.



Found Michael Baer, who is associated with Falcon Private Bank, on BusinessWeek. Looked them up they have a webpage and I've found annual reports hosted on an HK server. Checked out the emails can't really find anything suspicious about them on Google, so I'm really kind of curious as to wtf this is. Might not actually be spam. Any recommendations on how I can handle this or anyone else want to help me do some more digging?

Please send me your bank account info, ssoc numbers, all credit cards you have available to you and will make sure the swiss account is transferred to your name. Also please be sure to provide the address of your girlfriend/wife so I can "intimate" her as well.