To avoid inheritance scams, keep personal information private and be able to identify scams. Scam emails often mention unclaimed inheritance, demand payment of fees, and contain spelling errors. Check the source email address and avoid posting personal information online.
The first step in avoiding inheritance scams is being able to identify the scams and procedures used by scam artists to lure unsuspecting victims. Keeping your email address private and limiting your online presence are good ways to reduce your exposure to these scams. If you receive correspondence of this type, do not reply or send your personal data to the correspondent. Also, keep in mind that no legitimate law firm would ask you to pay relocation fees to receive an inheritance.
It’s not always possible to avoid receiving scam emails and messages, but being able to identify these scams will help you avoid becoming a victim of an inheritance scam. Usually, an inheritance scam takes the form of a letter from a law firm or executor informing you of an unclaimed inheritance from a deceased distant relative.
These letters or emails can be very persuasive to an unsuspecting recipient. Correspondence often mentions the name of the deceased relative, as well as the circumstances and date of death. The correspondence might look official, and the scam artist might use complicated terms to make the documents look legitimate. The amount of money mentioned in these messages is usually very high and the sender demands a response.
Once we receive your response, you will be asked for additional personal information and payment of certain administrative or transfer fees in order to receive the inheritance. This is how these scams generate money. There is no inheritance and the “taxes” go straight into the con artist’s pocket.
There is a checklist that you can follow to see if the message is authentic or not. The first sign of a scam email is that the recipient field is left blank or contains another email address. This means that the email you received was probably sent to many recipients. Check if the correspondent uses your full name, as scam artists often don’t have access to all of your personal information.
Another sign of a scam email is the numerous spelling and grammar errors, despite the complicated terms used. If the email contains spelling and grammar errors, it is likely that you have not been contacted by an educated professional. It is best not to reply to these emails at all.
Checking the source email address is also a clue as to the authenticity of the email. Most of the time the correspondent will want you to send your response to a free email account. Official email is usually sent from a private email address as law firms or professionals generally don’t use free email addresses to do their business. If you’re still unsure, look up the email address. Many recipients list these email addresses online to warn others.
The best way to limit your exposure to inheritance email scams is to keep your email address and personal information as private as possible while online. Avoid posting your email address in classified ads or online forums. Social networking sites are another easy way for a scam artist to access information about you and to contact you. If your contact information is available, be careful and always check before replying to any unsolicited messages.
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