The 501

Scams, Latin and Pony Express

Bona vacantia.

Sounds like Latin for “Bon voyage!” But isn’t. It means “ownerless property.”

An online scammer wants information (no doubt my Social Security number or bank account number or both) so I can inherit bona vacantia left by some guy with my last name who died intestate and might be related to me, especially if I cough up the required info. Yeah, right.

I’d lik…