do banks select people as beneficiaries for others on a randomly basis?

Question

it has recently came to my attention that i was assigned as the beneficiary for someone up on their death, however i have no family in the us, or anyone affiliated with this bank , they say they cant disclose who its comming from, but that account has been in my name even before i started doing biz with this bank, im curious to death anyone any ideas of how this could of came into my name?

Answer 1

Banks cannot designate someone at random...you have to be designated by the person on the account.

Answer 2

Banks do not select beneficiaries, the account holder does. This person (who holds the account) probably knows you well, and wants you to keep his money upon his death.

Is this a local bank or even a well known bank? Be very careful NOT to give out any of your personal information until you verify this is legitimate. It could very well be a scam and you are the target...

Answer 3

Sounds like a SCAM to me! Did you find this out via e-mail by chance? From someone you don't know from a bank that you never heard of? Maybe in Nigeria or Ivory Coast?

If it's truly yours, just empty out the account. If someone asks for advance "fees" to transfer the funds, head for the hills; it's a SCAM!

Answer 4

Take the money and be happy. Someone may have randomly picked you but it would be the person who had the money not the bank. If you did some investigating you may be able to figure out who it came from or how he/she knew you. Interesting tho.

Answer 5

The decedent must of have listed you. Banks cannot chose the beneficiaries for accounts, that is up to probate law. If you aren't the direct decendant of the decedent, then he must have listed you.

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Under the circumstances, I'd be cautious of a possible scheme. It does sound unusual.