Inheritance Scam

This scam evolved from the original Nigerian 419 scam and has many of the same characteristics. As in the 419 scam, the victim receives a letter, fax, or e-mail from someone overseas, but this time they are writing to inform the victim that a long lost relative has died or been killed.

The departed relative has substantial assets in the foreign country that they have left to the only surviving heir, the victim.

From here, the scam follows the 419 scenarios as attorney fees and such must be paid to claim the inheritance. If the victim does not have the means to pay the fees, they are put in touch with someone who will loan them the money. The loan comes in the form of a counterfeit check.

These scams have the potential to evolve into very large sums of money.