Prize & Lottery Scams
Inheritance / Nigerian Prince Scam
Emails claiming you've inherited money from an unknown relative or foreign dignitary, requiring fees to release the funds.
Reported Losses
Part of $301 million in prize/inheritance scams (2024)
Primary Targets
Email users, particularly elderly
Last Updated
2026-01-06
Also Known As
419 Scam
How Scammers Contact You
How This Scam Works
One of the oldest email scams, still claiming victims today:
**Classic version:** "I am the widow of a Nigerian prince/minister/businessman who left $10 million. You share his surname and may be entitled to his fortune. I need your help transferring the money."
**Modern versions:** - Unclaimed inheritance from distant relative - Locked funds that need your help to release - Gold or diamonds that need to be smuggled out - Lottery/sweepstakes you never entered
**The hook:** To receive your share (often 30-40% of millions), you must pay: - Attorney fees - Bribes to officials - Transfer taxes - Certificate fees
Each payment leads to requests for more.
Red Flags to Watch For
- ⚠️Unsolicited email about unexpected inheritance
- ⚠️Message from foreign country, often Nigeria, UK, or Spain
- ⚠️Sender is stranger or uses fake identity
- ⚠️Large sum of money involved (millions)
- ⚠️Must pay fees to receive funds
- ⚠️Urgency and secrecy emphasized
- ⚠️Poor grammar and suspicious email domain
- ⚠️Requests personal and banking information
📝 Real Victim Account
"I received an email that my great uncle had died in South Africa leaving $4.5 million. A 'lawyer' helped me start the transfer process. Over two years, I paid $110,000 in fees, taxes, and bribes. There was always one more fee. The inheritance didn't exist. I never got anything."
— FBI Internet Crime Report
How to Protect Yourself
- 1Delete unsolicited emails about inheritances or money transfers
- 2Never send money to receive money
- 3Don't share personal or banking information
- 4Real inheritances are handled through verified legal channels
- 5Research any claims independently
- 6Be suspicious of any too-good-to-be-true offers
- 7Don't respond, even to say no — it confirms your email is active
🆘 What to Do If You're a Victim
- 1Stop all communication immediately
- 2Don't send any more money
- 3Report to FBI IC3 at ic3.gov
- 4Report to FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- 5If you sent money, contact your bank or wire company
- 6If you shared personal info, monitor your credit
🔗 Related Scams
📚 Sources & References
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