$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
inheritance from unknown relative scam
Scammers pose as attorneys or bank officials claiming the victim has inherited money from a distant or unknown relative, requiring fees to release the funds.
“lottery scam”
↑ 72%Key indicators
Usually targetsOlder adults
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
Common regionGlobal
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers send emails claiming to represent a deceased person's estate, naming the victim as a beneficiary
2
Official-looking documents reference real laws and institutions to build credibility
3
Victims pay escalating fees for legal processing, tax clearance, and anti-terrorism certificates, with no inheritance ever materializing
What to do first
Verify any inheritance claim through an independent attorney, not through contacts provided in the email
Related terms
surprise inheritance scamunclaimed estate fraudforeign inheritance advance fee scamLottery and prize scamsEmailRisingOlder adultsLow-income householdsImmigrantsFreelancers and contractorsSmall business ownersPayroll, HR, and finance teamsGlobalsurprise inheritance scamunclaimed estate fraud
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Amanda, 35, a older adults, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate lottery and prize scams situation while using Email. Scammers send emails claiming to represent a deceased person's estate, naming the victim as a beneficiary
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Official-looking documents reference real laws and institutions to build credibility
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Victims pay escalating fees for legal processing, tax clearance, and anti-terrorism certificates, with no inheritance ever materializing
The outcome
Amanda realized something was wrong when email from a foreign attorney or banker claiming you inherited money from someone you have never heard of. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Verify any inheritance claim through an independent attorney, not through contacts provided in the email Amanda's experience shows why email from a foreign attorney or banker claiming you inherited money from someone you have never heard of and required to pay legal fees, taxes, or transfer charges before the inheritance can be released are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Email from a foreign attorney or banker claiming you inherited money from someone you have never heard of
- Required to pay legal fees, taxes, or transfer charges before the inheritance can be released
- Communication insists on secrecy and urgency to process the claim
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Verify any inheritance claim through an independent attorney, not through contacts provided in the email
- ✓Legitimate estates are settled through probate courts, not through unsolicited emails
- ✓Report inheritance scam emails to the FTC and the FBI IC3
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Keep the full sender address, domain, attachments, and—if possible—the raw email headers.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The FBI IC3 categorizes inheritance scams as a subset of advance fee fraud, with losses often reaching tens of thousands of dollars per victim
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Verify any inheritance claim through an independent attorney, not through contacts provided in the email
- ✓Legitimate estates are settled through probate courts, not through unsolicited emails
- ✓Report inheritance scam emails to the FTC and the FBI IC3
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The FBI IC3 categorizes inheritance scams as a subset of advance fee fraud, with losses often reaching tens of thousands of dollars per victim
FBI IC3 2024
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. Global has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
Report cross-border scams
econsumer.gov (ICPEN)
International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network portal for reporting cross-border online scams. Reports are shared with consumer protection agencies in 40+ countries.
Interpol financial crime guidance
Interpol
International policing guidance on online financial fraud, romance scams, and investment fraud operating across borders.
Report phishing emails
Anti-Phishing Working Group
Global industry coalition for reporting phishing emails and URLs. Forward phishing to [email protected].
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Older adults, Low-income households, Immigrants
Geographic concentration
Global
Primary channel
Email — Lottery and prize scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Older adults are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The FBI IC3 categorizes inheritance scams as a subset of advance fee fraud, with losses often reaching tens of thousands of dollars per victim
Source notes
- FBI IC3 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about inheritance from unknown relative scam
How does the inheritance from unknown relative scam work?+
Scammers send emails claiming to represent a deceased person's estate, naming the victim as a beneficiary Official-looking documents reference real laws and institutions to build credibility Victims pay escalating fees for legal processing, tax clearance, and anti-terrorism certificates, with no inheritance ever materializing
What are the warning signs of inheritance from unknown relative scam?+
Email from a foreign attorney or banker claiming you inherited money from someone you have never heard of Required to pay legal fees, taxes, or transfer charges before the inheritance can be released Communication insists on secrecy and urgency to process the claim
What should I do if I encounter inheritance from unknown relative scam?+
Verify any inheritance claim through an independent attorney, not through contacts provided in the email Legitimate estates are settled through probate courts, not through unsolicited emails Report inheritance scam emails to the FTC and the FBI IC3
Who is most at risk for inheritance from unknown relative scam?+
This scam primarily targets Older adults, Low-income households, Immigrants. It is most commonly reported in Global and typically appears on Email.
Is inheritance from unknown relative scam on the rise?+
inheritance from unknown relative scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, UK, CA, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
Recent reports
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.