PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — There’s another new scam going around, this time targeting seniors with claims of a foreign inheritance. Pennsylvania state offices are warning the public to stay vigilant.
According to officials, the scammers send convincing and official-looking emails on behalf of foreign credit unions looking to reward the recipient with a large inheritance left behind by a distant, wealthy relative.
To collect, the victim is asked to pay upfront fees — totalling hundreds of thousands of dollars — over the course of several months.
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office, along with Pennsylvania’s Insurance, Aging, and Banking and Securities departments, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Office of Attorney General, are warning Pennsylvanians of this scam.
The fake emails appear to be from legitimate agencies, but they urge residents not to respond to suspicious emails or texts. They also advise:
— Don’t trust messages about winnings or an inheritance from someone you don’t know.
— Don’t feel pressured to act now.
— Check to see if an email is from a legitimate source.
— If you’ve been contacted, don’t give out personal information, and don’t send them money.
Incidents should be reported to state officials at pa.gov/consumer or 1-866-PA-COMPLAINT.