Written by Robert Moore

Not long ago, an official looking letter arrived addressed to my deceased father. Inside was a message from “Attorney Patterson” stating that a man named Nicholas Moore had died in Canada. No heirs. No next of kin. But, conveniently, a $10 million life insurance policy just waiting to be claimed.

The letter was vague on details and how my family was related to Nicholas Moore was even more ambiguous. But “Mr. Patterson’s” letter was optimistic, and the proposition was simple: if I agreed to pose as a relative, we’d split the payout 50/50. It was a win/win proposition, we would both receive half of the unclaimed life insurance policy.

My branch of the Moore family tree is pretty small so I was quite sure I was not related to Nicholas Moore of Ontario, Canada.  Furthermore, I am not in the habit of replying to Canadian estate lawyers who contact me out of the blue regarding long lost relatives. But curiosity got the better of me. I sent an email to “Attorney Patterson” — not because I believed any part of the story, but because I wanted to see how this scam was played. Continue reading Dead Canadians, Fake Lawyers, and Real Insurance Advice →