The Hindu Business Line : The million-dollar spam!

A NEW type of spam is going round and it is different from the usual kind that boasts of having seen all those sites one has visited, or holding one's credit card number.

This one says `independent enquiry', and comes from STJ Consultant, disturbingly with an Italian id: stj_consultant@postino.it.

"My name is Sam Tierney," begins the e-mail. "I am a senior partner in the firm of STJ Consultants: Private Investigators and Security Consultants."

That's fine but what's their assignment?

"We are conducting a standard process investigation on behalf of HSBC, the international Banking conglomerate."

Well, you know that such a bank exists across the road, and so continue to read.

"This investigation involves a client who shares the same surname with you and also the circumstances surrounding investments made by this client at HSBC Republic, the Private Banking arm of HSBC."

If you were to search the Net, you'd know that "on October 1, 2003, the four private banking subsidiaries of the CCF Group, Banque du Louvre, Banque Eurofin, CCF Banque Privée Internationale and HSBC Republic, merged to become one of the largest private banks in France: HSBC Private Bank France."

Then, the mail regresses to the usual dying stuff: "The HSBC Private Banking client died in testate and nominated no successor in title over the investments made with the Bank."

How much? No mention of that, but "the essence of this communication with you is to request you provide us information/comments on any or all of the four issues."

One: "Are you aware of any relative/relation who shares your same surname whose last known contact address was Brussels, Belgium?"

Two: "Are you aware of any investment of considerable value made by such a person at the Private Banking Division of HSBC Bank PLC?"

Three: "Born on the 1st of June 1927."

Four: "Can you establish beyond reasonable doubt your eligibility to assume status of successor in title to the deceased?"

Quite detailed, so what is needed is an identity with the specifications mentioned.

"It is pertinent that you inform us ASAP whether or not you are familiar with this personality that we may put an end to this communication with you and our inquiries surrounding this personality."

So, Sam doesn't want to waste time, and you can ask to `unsubscribe'.

"You must appreciate that we are constrained from providing you with more detailed information at this point," says the mail withholding the usual giveaway info about that $ 36 or 22 million, lying uncared for.

"Please respond to this mail as soon as possible to afford us the opportunity to close this investigation. Thank you for accommodating our enquiry," signs off Sam Tierney politely.

A sign that spam is growing in sophistication.