According to the office of the Sedgwick County Attorney, a Sedgwick County man reported receiving a suspicious letter in the mail. The letter invited the recipient to cash in on a stranger's life insurance payout.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, the letter looks like it’s from a law firm and offers an “easy way” to get money using someone else’s life insurance policy. In the letter, the “lawyer” says they have a deceased client with an unclaimed life insurance policy worth millions. Because you supposedly have the same name last name and nationality as the deceased, the lawyer can add your name to the policy and split the money between you, their law firm, and a charity.
The scammer then contacts you either by text or email and will solicit personal and/or banking information. The FTC has the following advice for anyone contacted with this or any similar scam.
• Don’t respond. Never share your information with someone who contacts you and says they need it. And never send anyone cash or pay with gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency is a scam red flag.
• Share this information with a friend. You probably throw away these kinds of letters. But you may know someone who could use a friendly reminder to help them spot the scam.
• Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report makes a difference: by telling your story to the FTC and to others in your community, you help others avoid the scam.