Inheritance email scam
A "lawyer" or "bank officer" says a distant relative died without heirs and left you a fortune. To claim it, you must pay legal fees and send ID documents.
How this scam works
There is no inheritance. The fees keep coming, and your ID documents can be used for identity theft.
Common versions of the message
- A huge surprise inheritance
- Legal or clearance fees
- A request for your passport and secrecy
What the message looks like
Text from Barrister James Okafor
I am writing about your late relative who left an inheritance of $8.5 million with no other heir. To transfer the funds to you, please pay the $1,200 legal clearance fee and send a copy of your passport. Please keep this strictly confidential.
Fictional example based on common, publicly reported scam patterns.
The red flags
- 1
Huge surprise: “left an inheritance of $8.5 million”
Real estates do not find heirs by email
Real estates are handled by courts, not random emails to strangers.
- 2
Upfront fee: “pay the $1,200 legal clearance fee”
More fees will follow. The money never comes
Fees to release money are the scam.
- 3
Asks for your ID: “send a copy of your passport”
They use it for identity theft
Your passport copy can be used to open accounts in your name.
- 4
Keep it secret: “keep this strictly confidential”
Secrecy stops family from warning you
Secrecy stops family from warning you.
What to do
- Do not reply, pay, or send documents.
- Tell a family member about the email.
- Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and delete it.
If you already replied, clicked, or paid
- If you sent ID documents, visit IdentityTheft.gov and consider a credit freeze.
- If you paid, call your bank right away.
- Stop all contact.
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