Avery Associates, specialising in all matters concerning valuation for probate bring you the latest IHT news
A new inheritance scam is going around and tricking people out of potentially large sums of money, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has revealed. The OFT is now issuing a warning to people to be on the lookout for the scam to avoid becoming victims.
The scam involves letters or emails being sent to potential victims, supposedly from private investment managers. It is explained in the emails that they have inherited a sum of money as inheritance, and it then requests personal details in order to move forward with the case.
However, soon the victims start to receive requests for money to cover the expenses, and this is where they end up losing out to the criminals.
The emails ask the respondents to keep the details of the case confidential, and as a result some people end up being duped into handing over sums of money which they never get back.
The OFT says that the emails arrive in different forms, some being short and some being a lot longer. They are often characterised by poor spelling and grammar, and the contact details are often just free email addresses.
The OFT has said that emails are not generally used by real probate researchers, and that a letter, phone call or personal visit is more likely. In addition, real researchers should have identification and should also provide advice before anyone agrees to further discussions.
If you receive any correspondence then it is a good idea to discuss it with someone you know, or if you are doubtful of its authenticity then contact the Office of Fair Trading.
For confidential advice call Jeffrey Avery on 0800 567 7769
