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We’ve written about this scam before, but like a bad sequel, it’s back. People are telling the FTC they’ve gotten letters in the mail from law firms about unclaimed life insurance money. Have you gotten one of these? The “lawyer” says that one of their clients, with your same last name, died and you’re the heir to a life insurance policy worth millions. (Spoiler alert: you’re not.) The letter then explains that they’d like to split the proceeds between you, some charity organizations, and their law firm. But what’s really happening here?

Here’s the first thing to know: this is not a letter from a lawyer — it’s from a scammer. The letter might sound convincing, with the firm supposedly trying to contact family members and finding no heir to “the fortune.” You might even be tempted to reply, since maybe the worst that happens is you don’t get a share of the money. But there is worse: if you contact them, they’ll try to get your personal and financial information (like your Social Security or bank account numbers), your money, or all of the above. And that life insurance policy or inheritance? It doesn’t exist at all. 

Here’s what to do if you get one of these letters:

  • Don’t respond. Keep your money and information to yourself. Never send money or information to a stranger who promises big rewards. That’s always a scam.
  • Pass this information on to a friend. You probably throw away these kinds of letters, but you probably know someone who could use a friendly reminder that these are scams.
  • Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Want to stay on top of the latest scams? Get the FTC’s Consumer Alerts delivered to your email inbox. Sign up: ftc.gov/ConsumerAlerts.

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