Recent Death,Is Heir Hunter Bogus

[tsumi]

Hi Mary,Unless I suppose he left his Niece a legacy of some amount,from all accounts he knew his brother had emigrated and was married with children over in Canada.The acting Solicitors mentioned in the London Gazette would hopefully have advertised in the Canadian Papers or at least inquired with a Lawyer firm over there.
Tsumi

[tsumi]

Hi All,
Update on our "Heir Hunter"

Cousin,s friend Susan has phoned the Solicitor named in the London Gazzette and confirmed it was her Uncle who died,but she was not a beneficary,so she left her details if her cousins wanted to get in touch with her,so no pot of gold there.

Just gotten this email from my cousin and our H... H..... he /she is persistant to say the least...........

Hi .......
Here is the update as to what has happened. Yes Susan is not in her uncles will. Apparently this is coming from her grandfather William Ford Parry. He was a seaman and apparently this has to do with pension funds. Do you know any where were we can look up seaman information? We think William died in 1972 if we have the right person.

I think our H H has cast his bait and reeling her in and have in previous e.mails to my cousin said go to the Police,inform them, but must be reluctant.
Thanks everyone for your time and interest and can only wonder where this will end!
Tsumi

[tsumi]

Hi All,This is the latest e.mail from Canada in the Heir Hunter saga

If we have the right William Ford Ferguson he died in 1972 in Leicestershire. Barry did give Susan a name and phone number of someone in the US who had just gotten a check wether they are working together or not who knows. But he did say that he got a check . Apparently this sea pension thing has a lot of unclaimed funds that have to be paid out?? He knows more about her family eg grandmothers full name that she remarried etc. I'll pass your letter along to her Once again Thanks Kathy X

Anyone got any more thoughts on the matter?
Tsumi

[MaryA]

Thanks for updating us. Not being an expert I can only think that if there is a Will then only those who are mentioned in it (or their immediate descendants if they are deceased) will benefit, but if there isn't a Will I find it strange that they are searching a death that happened in 1972 as I thought there was a limit of 30 years before it reverted to the Government.

So far as research on seamen, I give a couple of links, one the details of holdings at the Maritime Museum and the other some guidance given by one of our members, although it might be that this was just for 19th Century rather than recent years.
http://forum.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk ... 16&t=13054
http://forum.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk ... 14&t=12890

[tsumi]

Thanks Mary,have sent your reply to my cousin,this Barrie "the Heir Hunter" won,t let go will he.
Tsumi x.

[dickiesam]

Thanks Mary,have sent your reply to my cousin,this Barrie "the Heir Hunter" won,t let go will he.
Tsumi x.

His persistence is so typical of a scammer. Once someone has been hooked by responding to a scammer it can be quite difficult to get rid of them. Since it is apparent that the solicitor in London has ruled out your kin as an heir I would suggest reporting the matter to the police.

This is worth a read... http://content.met.police.uk/Site/scamc ... ksandfraud

And this might be useful.... http://actionfraud.org.uk/

[MaryA]

Just the threat might work.

[tsumi]

Hi All,Many thanks for all your time and most valuable advice on this one,it is becoming similar to a runaway train,we know what the end result will more than likely be,but the victim is well and truly hooked.
The scammer is changing the goalpost,s ever so slightly when she checks out his story,first of all it is her Uncle,now it is her Grandfather,who has left unclaimed monies, unclaimed pension fund indeed!.
Another point how do we know this person is who he/she say,s they are ?.
Have told Kathy to tell her relation to go the Police yet again if she will I don,t know .
Will let you know the next instalment when it happens.
There is one good thing coming out of this,it is putting us all on our guard if nothing else.
Tsumi

[dickiesam]

While browsing for info on wills I came across this site http://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/probate which had these relevant paragraphs....

Probate Scams
Please be aware that there are currently several Probate scams in operation via the Internet. Many of these will inform the recipient that they are the beneficiary of a substantial legacy but will ask for fees and/or taxes in advance of sending more information or the release of funds.

These will always be fraudulent and on no account should you make any payment or transfer any funds. You can obtain further information and advice concerning such scams on http://www.met.police.uk/fraudalert You will also find information about reporting such activity to the police, as the police may be able to close down the e-mail accounts concerned.

[MaryA]

Useful advice DS, please post that on our Websites Board under a heading of Advice for Probate Scams.

[dickiesam]

Useful advice DS, please post that on our Websites Board under a heading of Advice for Probate Scams.

Done!

[MaryA]

Thanks

[tsumi]

Many thanks Dickiesam and Mary,I have sent the advice to Kathy and she in turn to her friend Susan,but we have had no more news.
Will update if I hear any more,once again many thanks for all the advice and time spent.
Cheers Tsumi

[tsumi]

Hi All,this is the latest in the story,H Hunter sent some documents for her to fill in and have signed ny an Notary including her Passport
Cousins nephew has sent this to her............


Hi ......,
I’m off to France tomorrow but I’ve done a bit more investigating on your behalf.
I think you are dealing with the real Barrie H.
Looks like there are several Jewish Hill family members (Avishai, Naftali, Jeremy, & Barrie) running multiple small companies in Salford & Prestwich (greater Manchester area).
Barrie H appears to be a Director of several companies including Almanak Ltd and Urban Regeneration Ltd.
The telephone number Barrie H quotes for his Brantwood Road address is the telephone number for Urban Regeneration Ltd, 80 Bury New Road, Prestwich, M25 0JU. I phoned them – no answer.
These companies have not filed returns to Company House recently (maybe because they have a small turnover).
I phoned Action Fraud this morning and they said it sounded (so far) like an attempt at Identity Theft & will investigate him. They said that most legitimate “Heir Hunter” firms in the UK employ local agents in Canada, the US, Australia and NZ to visit you in person and verify your credentials before paying out inheritances.
So all in all, I have no firm evidence that this is a scam. But I personally would not hand over these documents without a more convincing story on where the “inheritance” has come from. The documents he wants are the ones an identity thief needs.
Might it be possible for your Notary/Solicitor just to certify that you are the descendant of your father/grandfather and ask for the “inheritance” to be paid to your solicitor on your behalf?
Good Luck

Will let you know if any further details emerge and all the advice and help this forum has given is spot on.
Tsumi

[MaryA]

The documents he wants are the ones an identity thief needs.

Precisely what we have thought. There is definitely a very strong smell of fish around.

This retired lawyer isn't part of the company listed in the London Gazette is he? Has anybody actually contacted them to find out if they have heard of him?
"QualitySolicitors Redkite, Shaftesbury House, Main Street, Pembroke SA71 4HJ."

[tsumi]

Hi Mary,
No he isn,t known to the firm in the London Gazette,Susan did speak to the Solicitor who dealt with the claim and was told she wasn,t mentioned in the will.
I think this place in Manchester is like a P.O box but a house and that is why he said he will be away the 26,Sep,in other words won,t be there to collect his mail,because there are a lot of other buisnesses registered there.
Tsumi

[dickiesam]

Precisely what we have thought. There is definitely a very strong smell of fish around.

If this guy keeps coming back about money and documents he is certain to be a scammer. Once anyone responds to a scam they are like a game fish on a hook. If more than one response is made the hook goes in deeper. The scammer will keep trying to elicit something for his 'trouble'. After he has received even one document there will probably come a request for a small sum to cover his expenses, maybe £100 or so, as a 'good faith' payment. Personally I would treat all future mails from him as spam.

[tsumi]

Hi Everyone,To update Action Fraud has been notified from both sides of the Atlantic, thank goodness.
Tsumi

[dickiesam]

Hi Everyone,To update Action Fraud has been notified from both sides of the Atlantic, thank goodness.
Tsumi

Thanks for the update, Tsumi. Have to say I was very concerned that someone was going to be sucked into a nightmare situation.

[MaryA]

Good, hope he's gets his come uppance