Lawrence Scarpelli Alias Jay H. Miller? scam, investment scam, investment fraud, property investment, business investment, CA, Texas, GA

My wife and I run an online magazine. We were contacted by a person identifing themself as Lawrence Scarpelli - lawrencescarp@yahoo.com. He claimed to have 50 million dollars to invest in businesses and said he was always looking for possible investments. 

At first we were highly dubious but a check of this individual's profile and search of the internet came back with a profile on LinkedIn woth hundreds of followers and what looked like a person who was seriousabout helping business and possibly finding a tax shelter for his money. 

"Lawrence" requested we send him a businesscontract so we did this and he promised to deposit the monies (1.5 million dollars) into our bank account. 

I was never completely fooled, but since I couldn't locate anything negative and everything seemed to be a legitimate profile, we sent the paperwork hoping for the best but never really expecting to receive the funds.

Of course once the deadline passed, "Lawrence" emailed us again explaining that the funds were under his "dead" wifes account and he needed $3800.00 to pay for the transfer, a classic Nigerian scam. 

I am publishing this because I hope no one else gets taken in by this crap. Granted we never sent the money but the old addage still holds true: If it is to good to be true it almost always is.

The M.O. of this a**hole is to first offer you money and get you excited about the possibility of receiving the funds. He claims he can't talk on the phone because he had a stroke, another red flag. Here is the informaton he posted to me in my email when he asked for money -

It is obvious to me whoever this person is is working with others to defraud people. If you are contacted by this individual or anyone promising money I guarantee it is a ripoff.