Be wary of letters in the mail or an email from a lawyer informing you about a family inheritance, police are advising.
South Simcoe Police Service is alerting the public about the inheritance scam currently circulating in the area following multiple citizen reports.
The scam typically involves a fictitious story about a deceased individual who left their estate to the intended victim. The scam usually begins with a personalized email or letter telling the person they are a distant relative. The letter or email states that the deceased person’s estate is awaiting distribution, and the law firm has been trying to locate relatives to inherit the funds, and bank account details are required.
Warning signs:
- You’re contacted about unexpected inheritance that amounts to millions of dollars, and you are listed as the sole beneficiary.
- You receive a letter or email that contains grammatical mistakes and typos, not just within the text but in the letterheads and logos as well.
- You are told that accessing the inheritance is complicated due to government regulations, taxes, or bank restrictions, and you must pay a fee and provide personal information to receive the money.
How to protect yourself:
- If you get a letter or email out of the blue from somebody who claims you’ve inherited a fortune, tear up the letter or delete the email — do not respond.
- Never share sensitive personal or financial information with someone you aren’t completely sure you can trust.
- If you think there’s a chance that the email/letter might be legitimate, consider your family history and see if the facts match up. Consult an attorney.
- Remember that legitimate law firms or executors don’t ask you to pay a fee in exchange for information about your share in an estate.
Report fraud to police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or visit their website to learn more about the latest scams and how to protect yourself at AntiFraudCentre.ca.
