False inheritance scams are unfortunately becoming more common every day. Malicious individuals try to take advantage of people's vulnerability and credulity by making them believe in alleged inherited fortunes. To avoid becoming a victim of these scams, it's important to be aware of the tricks fraudsters use. Unfortunately, this type of practice has only increased and caused a lot of problems. In this article, we'll give you tips on how to avoid that, and protect yourself from false inheritance scams.
Be vigilant
If you receive an unexpected email or letter telling you that you are the beneficiary of an unexpected inheritance, be careful. Be wary of requests for personal information, requests for advance fees, or banking information required to unblock the inheritance. Scammers often use emotional manipulation tactics to trick you into acting quickly without thinking. Take the time to assess the situation calmly and seek the advice of a professional or financial advisor before making any decisions.
Verify the authenticity of the heritage
Find out about the name of the deceased and look for information about the existence of the person and their estate. Beware of forged documents or death certificates. Research online, contact the relevant authorities, or use an inheritance lawyer to obtain reliable information about the validity of the inheritance. Don't rely solely on documents or information provided by scammers.
Sharing personal information
Never share your bank account numbers, PINs, passwords, or other confidential information with unknown or unverified people. Fraudsters will often try to get your sensitive personal and financial information to carry out their scam. Scammers can use this information to steal your identity or access your bank accounts. Be especially vigilant when it comes to requests for advance payments or unlocking fees. Legitimate inheritances generally don't require an upfront payment from you.
Emergency and pressure signs
Scammers with false inheritances often use pressure and urgency tactics to trick victims into acting quickly without thinking. They may claim that the inheritance is at risk, that there is an impending deadline, or that there are others interested. Be alert to these emergency signs and take time to think rationally. Real legacies generally do not require immediate action and you have the right to take any necessary precautions before making a commitment.
Fraud attempts
If you think you are a victim or witness an attempt at a false inheritance scam, it is important to report the incident to the appropriate authorities. Contact your local police department or report to consumer protection agencies in your country. The more cases of scams are reported, the more difficult it becomes for scammers to continue their activities. By reporting these scam attempts, you are helping to protect others and reduce the impact of these scams.
Curious to know more about the different types of scams? Check out our articles onDHL scam, theWedding gift scam or even theMondial Relay scam.
Secure your purchases with Obvy
We also recommend that you go through Obvy to secure your transactions.
Obvy offers a payment method specially designed to secure transactions between individuals. Whether you buy or sell between individuals on ad platforms like Leboncoin or Vinted, Obvy acts as a trusted third party to avoid all scams.
In the event of a counterfeiting scam, you can easily and quickly return the product to your seller and get your money back. In addition, you will have the necessary information about the seller in case of legal proceedings.
