By Tom Polanski, EVP, eBrand Media and eBrand Interactive

Over the past few months eBrand Media has consistently sounded an alarm about Facebook, and the cornucopia of information that people share so freely, and unnecessarily, on Facebook. I discovered the e-mail below in my Facebook inbox. It’s far superior to other phishing e-mail in that it’s targeted directly at me, by name, includes the specific name of a supposed relative in the body of the e-mail, and strives to convey a Kings English dialect. It was sent by a “James Desouza” which I’m sure is an alias. Please note the Yahoo! e-mail address. It’s reasonable to expect that attorneys would have a domain name for their law firm, and an e-mail address from that domain.   

A search of Facebook delivers 57 results for the name, “James Desouza”. None have pictures.  

“Dear Tom Polanski,

I am Barrister James Desouza, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Eng. J .B.Polanski, a national of your country, who used to work with Shell Development Company in Lome Togo. Here in after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2005, my client, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident along Sagbama express road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy here to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in recovering the fund valued at US$20.5 Million, left behind by my client before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where this huge amount were deposited.

The said Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next twenty one official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3 years now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since you have the same last names, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you.

Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer. I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please I need these information to enable me have an oral discussion with you. Reply through this my private email address;esq_jamesdesouza@yahoo.com for more details.

1.Marrital status
2 Age
3.Your current contact address
4.Your phone and fax number
5.Copy of your identification
6.Your private e-mail address

Best Regards,

JAMES DESOUZA ESQ and Associate Chambers
Rue 879 Palm Beach Boulevard
BP.8524 Lome Togo.West Africa.
E-mail;esq_jamesdesouza@yahoo.com.”