A TikTok creator received a letter claiming their family is due an $11 million inheritance, written to look like an official letter from a real lawyer's office.
The creator said, "I got a letter from a lawyer that says I'm about to inherit $11 million."
Here's what to know
Creator @cathypedrayes used a TikTok video to examine a letter claiming her family could receive $11 million from someone named Maria. She said the document combined real personal details with the name of an actual law firm, even though the letter itself was fraudulent.
@cathypedrayes ‼️ Scam Alert: the inheritance letter scam This one uses real personal details and a real law firm, but it's fake. The goal is to get you to respond where they'll tell you to pay for processing fees for the money you'll never receive. If you see this, don't respond, don't pay anything & report it to the FTC. #scamalert #fraudprevention #psa #awareness #safetytips ♬ original sound - Viral Music Hits
She highlighted the warning signs in her 'Scam Alert' video. She noted an Outlook email address, a phone number with an area code that didn't match the law firm's location, and what she described as an "unbelievable inheritance."
She said the scam is meant to draw someone in to respond and eventually pay processing fees for money that never arrives.
More background
The letter appeared convincing because it included accurate-looking personal information. As the creator put it, "there's a lot of real details here, which is why I blacked this out," suggesting the scam borrowed enough genuine information to seem legitimate at first.
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She said the letter came in with her grandmother's mail, explaining, "Technically, this one was grandma, but I'm handling the mail."
She also warned that this kind of scam often targets older people, who may be more susceptible to scam tactics.
"Apparently our relative Maria died. Never heard of her," she said, describing how the letter tried to create urgency and credibility by inventing a connection to a deceased family member.
What can be done?
Her advice was not to engage. She said the letter aimed to start a back-and-forth that would eventually lead to demands for fees tied to the supposed inheritance.
Because this one arrived with her grandmother's mail, she urged viewers to think about which relatives in their family might be most vulnerable and to make sure parents know the scam is circulating.
She emphasized checking whether the email looked professional, whether the phone number matched the claimed location, and whether the inheritance amount aligns with what a relative might have left behind.
She ended with a clear warning: don't respond, don't pay anything, and report the letter to the FTC.
Where can I learn more?
These articles cover similar red flags, like FTC warnings about heir schemes, deceptive mail, crypto bait, disaster-recovery fraud, and bitcoin ATM pressure tactics.
• The FTC says letters claiming you're an heir to millions often use fake lawyers and upfront fees.
• Online free-money pitches hide the real cost in privacy risks, fees, and malware.
• After disasters, contractors and impostors target vulnerable homeowners with bogus repairs and recovery promises.
• Missouri police warned scammers direct you to withdraw cash before funneling it into Bitcoin ATMs.
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