Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2025
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by AMAC, D.J. Wilson
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2 Comments
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Inheritance scams are those in which potential victims are told by scammers that a deceased distant relative or wealthy benefactor has left them money or property. This, of course, is false. Scammers may ask for information such as a Social Security number or banking information for “verification purposes” or they may ask for payment to cover taxes, transaction cost, legal fees or more. This is all part of a working scam!
Scammers typically prey on senior citizens and other vulnerable people. They hope that potential victims believe them and are motivated to act. Learn what these scams are and how to stay protected!
Scammer sentenced
Rethinking65, shared news of a Nigerian man who was sentenced to eight years in prison for participating in an inheritance fraud scheme which specifically targeted American senior citizens. It was a transnational crime, meaning that the scammer performed an illegal act that crossed national borders. These crimes are typically carried out by organized criminal networks that operate globally to profit from illicit activities.
What happened?
In this scam, 41-year-old Ehis Lawrence Akhimie sent personalized letters to elderly people over the course of several years. Akhimie falsely claimed to be a bank representative from Spain. In the letter, he stated that a family member of the recipient had died. He also claimed that the deceased relative left them a multi-million-dollar inheritance. Akhimie, along with other scammers, instructed victims to send them money to cover fees to gain their purported inheritance.
An elaborate scam
Per Rethinking65, “The fraudsters used a complex network of U.S.-based former victims, whom they convinced to receive money and forward to the defendants or other associates, authorities said. The scams victims who sent money did not receive any funds in return.” Akhimie pleaded guilty to scamming more than $6 million from over 400 victims. A total of eight defendants along with Akhimie were sentenced to prison in connection with this crime. The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) reported that many of the victims were elderly or vulnerable.
A cautionary tale
This unfortunate and sophisticated real scam story underscores the need for seniors to keep their guards up. Scammers are very good at what they do. They have the capability to look and sound convincing. Understand signs of scams including stories that sound too good to be true. Never give out personal information to strangers, even if they appear trustworthy. Scammers often scare or pressure individuals to act, a tell-tale sign of a scam. They may also ask for payments in unusual and hard-to-trace methods such as via gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps, or cryptocurrencies. Federal authorities encourage people who suspect a scam to report it ASAP. Reporting financial loss quickly is key to helping recover funds. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) explains, “If you paid a scammer, your money might be gone already.” But they continue, “No matter how you paid, it’s always worth asking the company you used to send the money if there’s a way to get it back.”
Where to report inheritance and other scams
If you think you’ve been scammed, remain calm and reach out to the appropriate authorities for help. The FTC is an excellent starting point, providing valuable up-to-date information on where to report the crime. Their resources will direct you on what steps to take if you paid a scammer, gave a scammer your personal information, or if a scammer has access to your computer or phone. If you are being threatened by a scammer and feel afraid or in danger, call 911 promptly to report it.
Putting the blame where it belongs
People who are scammed often report feeling humiliated. However, scams can be quite sophisticated. Understand that scammers are skilled at leveraging trust to deceive their victims. They may tell convincing stories, use persuasive language, play on emotions, and employ psychological trickery. Large operations have the capability to impersonate people using AI, produce realistic looking fake websites and correspondence, and use detailed information about people to pull off scams. Therefore, people should not feel ashamed about being victimized. It is time to break the old stigma and place the blame where it really belongs – on the scammer! It’s also time to hold scammers accountable for their crimes to put a stop to it!
Here are some common signs of scams:
- Scammers tell stories that are too good to be true! It is not uncommon for scammers to call and lie, for example telling people that they won a prize. This news plays upon people’s emotions. But, unfortunately, it’s not true. Or a scam message may take people to a fake website and instruct them to enter personal information under false pretense. Sometimes, scammers may say that shipping and handling payments are due upfront to get the prize. This, of course, is a trick designed to steal information and money because the prize typically doesn’t exist.
- Scammers initiate contact out of the blue. People typically get random calls, texts or emails out of the blue from unfamiliar numbers or email addresses. It’s best to ignore communications from unknown sources due to the potential for it to be scammers or spam. Answering a robocall, for instance, indicates to a scammer that your number is active. This sets you up for future scams.
- Scammers can use impersonation tactics. Scammers may call and pretend to represent a government agency like the IRS or Social Security Administration. They may threaten individuals with legal actions or fines. Understand that these agencies do not call people out of the blue and they never make threats. Sometimes, scammers even spoof the phone number to make caller ID say the IRS or SSA is calling. Should you accidentally answer a suspicious random call, hang up. If you are concerned that the IRS or SSA is trying to reach you, hang up and call them back using their official phone number that you independently look up to verify authenticity.
Scammers on the prowl
Scammers use advanced tactics to trick their victims. As frequent targets of scams, senior citizens are cautioned to keep their guards up and avoid sharing personal information. In fact, it’s best to avoid answering calls from strangers. It’s worth repeating that if you accidentally answer the phone and the call feels suspicious, go with your gut instinct and hang up immediately. Do not share any information with random callers. Do not worry about being polite or hurting the caller’s feelings as it is better to be safe than sorry. Never open emails or click on links from unknown senders as messages may contain malware (harmful software designed to disrupt, damage or gain unauthorized access to computer systems.) Likewise, stay educated on the latest deceptive tactics, such as the inheritance scam, to avoid falling victim to scammers.
Disclosure: This article is for general information only and does not constitute a substitute for professional advice.
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