I got a strange message on facebook, is it a scam?

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My name's Andrew Brockovich and I just got a very strange message on facebook:
"Hi, I am the personal Lawyer to late Engr. Williams Brockovich, who worked as an oil industry consultant here in Togo. He lost his life together with his entire family in a ghastly motor accident on the 26th December 2009 enroute a neighboring country. Since his death, no relation of his has come forward to lay claims to his Estate/Legacy because they all died in the accident with my late client. The Bank where the fund was deposited by my late client cannot release the fund from his account unless someone applies for release of the fund. I now seek your permission to have you stand as a next of kin to the deceased as all documentations will be carefully worked out for the funds release of U.S.$5.2M to you as the beneficiary's. I wait to hear from you. Best regards."
I'm so confused, I have no clue who this person is, why would they want me to stand as a next of kin just because I have the guys last name? Would that even be legal?
He sent it to me by his gmail account, I looked it up and it seems legit, it has the guys name and says he's a lawyer and such.
haha, thanks for answering guys, thought it was but it was pretty convincing, never got an email like this before. They truly are wackjobs.
ha, sarcasm, Alycia?