Have you just received an email or letter that states you are the lucky recipient of a foreign inheritance?Scammers are on the prowl looking for your hard earned money, do you know how spot aninheritance scam? Read more before you send a check or money order ANYWHERE to get your inheritance.
Spotting a Scam
- Spotting an inheritance scam can be relatively simple if you know a few tricks and understand the basics about how the probate process works.
- For example is someone asking for money up front to get an inheritance?
- This is a big red flag to any Palm Beach probate litigator.
- The only person who might have to put money up front is the personal representative.
- Did you know a personal representative in West Palm Beach may need to file for abond?
- If you are not the personal representative there is no reason for you to put money up.
- Another red flag is when the letters come from a bank.
- Probate courts and personal representatives handle estates and inheritance matters not banks.
- A letter from a bank should seem suspicious to you.
- Again, understanding how probate works makes spotting a scam a lot easier.
What to Do Next
- So you have a suspicious inheritance letter now what?
- First of all if its an obvious scam just throw it away.
- But you may also want to alert the Palm Beach authorities.
- Why?
- Because other West Palm Beach residents are going to be taken advantage of if you do not!
- Experienced Palm Beach probate litigators see this kind of thing all the time and it should be stopped.
- If you think that someone you love is part of an inheritance scam you need to tell them to speak to a probate attorney immediately.
- Often times these letters will attempt to look more official by making them from other countries.
- Do not be fooled, other countries have probate systems too.
- Unsure if the letter is legitimate?
- Speak to someone who is experienced, knows the law and knows whether or not the inheritance claim even makes sense!
- What else do you need to know before you attempt to get your inheritance?