That Letter Promising a Fortune? It’s Probably a Scam

A Georgia resident recently shared a troubling letter delivered to her home and addressed to her late husband, who passed away in 2007. The letter, allegedly from a Hong Kong attorney, claimed to be about a life insurance policy tied to a deceased individual with the same last name. The implication? Her husband, or perhaps she herself, might be entitled to a lucrative inheritance.

 

It sounds like the setup to a gripping novel, right?. But in real life, this is a well-worn and dangerous scam.

Inheritance scam letters are meant to throw you off the scent, with realistic legal jargon, polished logos, and forged signatures. (iStock)

Inheritance Scams: What They Are and How They Work

These schemes are known as inheritance scams, and they’ve been around for decades. They prey on hope, grief, and curiosity, often wrapped in the trappings of legal authority.

Here’s the typical playbook:

  • A scammer, often claiming to be an attorney, banker, or foreign government official, reaches out with urgent news: you or a family member could be the heir to a substantial fortune.
  • The deceased allegedly shares your surname and left no known heirs, creating a perfect opening for a fabricated connection.
  • To "release" the inheritance, you're told you must first jump through some legal hoops. These instructions may include paying taxes, clearing foreign banking regulations, or hiring someone to “process” the claim.
  • Along the way, they’ll “require” you to provide sensitive information, like your address, banking details, or copies of your ID.

This scam is not just about the initial payment. Once you’ve bitten, the demands often escalate, and your information may be used for identity theft or sold on the dark web.

Why This Scam Works So Well

Inheritance scams tap into something deeply human: the desire to believe in good fortune. When the name on the letter matches someone you loved and lost, it creates an emotional vulnerability.

 

Scammers know this. That’s why their letters often come well-packaged, with realistic legal jargon, polished logos, and forged signatures. Some even go so far as to send “power of attorney” documents with phony notary stamps to build legitimacy.

 

The Federal Trade Commission and other agencies have long warned about these cons, but they continue to evolve. In 2024 alone, the FTC received more than 2.6 million reports of fraud, with reported losses exceeding $12 billion. Victims of imposter scams just like this one represented the second highest amount of monetary loss among all categories. (For more detailed information, click here to read the FTC’s recent press release). 

How to Spot and Shut Down an Inheritance Scam

It can be tempting to follow up “just to see if it’s real.” But even one reply can signal to the scammer that you’re a viable target. Here’s how to stay safe:

 

If You Receive a Suspicious Letter:

  • Verify the sender independently. Look up the firm or name on your own, not using the contact info in the letter.
  • Be wary of shared surnames. A common last name is not a legal justification for inheritance.
  • Never send money or personal info. No legitimate lawyer will ever ask you to pay upfront to claim an inheritance.
  • Report the letter. File a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or contact the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.

But What If It Could Be Real?

This is the part that gets many people. You wonder, what if this one’s different? What if I’m the exception? 

 

Listen… we don’t want to destroy your dreams of buying a big house, a new car, and paying off your student loan.  But think about it: if someone truly left you a multimillion dollar inheritance, would their legal team randomly send you a letter more than a decade after their death? 

 

Yeah… probably not. 

 

In legitimate cases, estate attorneys contact verified heirs through official, traceable channels. And most importantly, they don’t demand payments to proceed.

If you’re randomly contacted about a large inheritance many years later, and asked to pay for it, that newfound wealth you’re imagining will likely stay that way: imaginary. (iStock)

Final Thoughts: Trust Instincts, Not Windfalls

It’s easy to see how scams like this catch people off guard. They blend just enough truth (your real name, your real loss) with a dash of fantasy. But when it comes to money from strangers, especially overseas, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

 

Have you or someone you know ever received a letter like this? What made you skeptical, or made you hesitate? It’s through sharing these stories that we can build a more scam-smart community.

 

Stay informed, stay skeptical, and always verify before you trust.