How to Protect Against Fake Inheritances? Our Tips
Unfortunately, fake inheritance scams are 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 falling victim to these scams, it is important to be aware of the tricks used by fraudsters. Unfortunately, this type of practice has only increased and has caused many problems. In this article, we'll give you some advice on how to avoid this, and protect yourself against fake inheritance scams.
Be vigilant
If you receive an unexpected e-mail or letter informing you that you are the beneficiary of an unexpected inheritance, be careful. Be wary of requests for personal information, advance fees or bank details required to release the inheritance. Scammers often use emotional manipulation tactics to get you to act quickly without thinking. Take the time to assess the situation calmly and seek the advice of a professional or financial adviser before making any decisions.
Check the authenticity of the inheritance
Find out the name of the deceased and look for information on the existence of the person and their estate. Beware of falsified documents or death certificates. Carry out online searches, contact the relevant authorities or call on the services of a lawyer specialising in inheritance law to obtain reliable information about the validity of the inheritance. Don't rely solely on the documents or information provided by fraudsters.
Sharing personal information
Never share your bank account numbers, PIN codes, passwords or any other confidential information with unknown or unverified people. Fraudsters will often try to obtain your sensitive personal and financial information to carry out their scams. Fraudsters can use this information to steal your identity or access your bank accounts. Be particularly wary of requests for advance payment or release fees. Legitimate inheritances generally do not require any upfront payment from you.
Signs of urgency and pressure
Fake inheritance scammers often use pressure and urgency tactics to get victims to act quickly without thinking. They may claim that the inheritance is at risk, that there is an imminent deadline or that there are other people interested. Be alert to these signs of urgency and take the time to think rationally. Genuine inheritances do not usually require immediate action and you are entitled to take all the necessary precautions before committing yourself.
Attempted fraud
If you believe you are a victim or witness an attempted fake inheritance scam, it is important to report the incident to the relevant authorities. Contact your local police department or make a report to the consumer protection bodies in your country. The more cases of scams are reported, the more difficult it becomes for crooks to continue their activities. By reporting these scams, you are helping to protect others and reduce their impact.
Curious to find out more about the different types of scams? Have a look at our articles on the arnaque DHL, the arnaque aux cadeaux de mariage or the arnaque Mondial Relay.
Secure your purchases with Obvy
We also advise you to use Obvy to secure your transactions.
Obvy offers a payment method specially designed to secure transactions between private individuals. Whether you are buying or selling between private individuals on ad platforms such as Leboncoin or Vinted, Obvy acts as a trusted third party to help you avoid any scams.
In the event of a counterfeit scam, you can quickly and easily return the product to the seller and get your money back. What's more, you'll have all the information you need about the seller in the event of legal action.
