If you’ve received a letter in your mailbox outlining how a relative you never knew you had has left you millions of dollars in a foreign bank account – sorry, it’s a scam.
Victoria Police are warning the community after they’ve seen an increase in reports of what they’re calling the “Inheritance Scam,” with an old fashioned twist.
At least six people have reported receiving letters indicating they should reach out to the bank because they are entitled to 90 per cent of the funds – 23 million pounds in most cases. Instead of an online operation, the letters are addressed to each recipient individually and have been delivered to their residences in Greater Victoria.
“While introduced by hand delivered letter, similar to email-based inheritance scams, recipients are asked to reply via an email address,” VicPD said in a release.
None of the recipients in Victoria or Esquimalt have been defrauded. Police say the hand delivery method is a recent development in terms of ongoing scams, so while it may appear legitimate, it is not.
“It is important to remember no bank would offer anyone money in this way,” VicPD said.
For more information, or to report fraud online visit antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.