Inheritance Scams
February 2, 2026
Inheritance scams target the dreamer in all of us – the one who wonders what life might look like if you suddenly found yourself the recipient of a multimillion-dollar fortune. Unfortunately, scammers know they can use this dream to prey on innocent victims.
With inheritance scams, it is common to receive a letter or email from someone claiming to be the executor of a distant relative’s estate in another country. The communication will claim that the relative passed away with no heirs, leaving the recipient first in line to the fortune. Other warning signs associated with this scam include:
- Personal information, such as Social Security number, birth date, and bank account number must be provided to receive the cash.
- A payment must be made to receive the inheritance, often due to government regulations, taxes, or bank restrictions.
- Grammatical errors in the letter. However, this is becoming less common due to AI.
How to protect yourself
- If you receive a physical letter, rip it up and throw it away. If it is an email, mark it as spam and delete it.
- Never share personal or financial information with someone who has initiated unsolicited contact with you.
- If you believe the communication could be legitimate, consult with a lawyer first.
Don’t allow a scammer to pull you away from reality. If something sounds too good to be true, then it most likely is too good to be true.