This article discusses some of the techniques used by scammers to trick people into giving them money. For example, a person might be told that they could claim an inheritance from a long lost relative under the condition that they pay money to help set up the trust to receive the money. A good rule of thumb is that a person should not have to spend money to receive money. People might be told that they owe taxes to the IRS, won the lottery, or that they could get a “tax-free grant.” It is not common for government agencies to threaten people for money over the phone so it is important for people to watch out for impostures. Scammers might also call claiming to be a debt collector so people should make sure to actually call the number listed on their billing statement.
See Gabriella Dunn, A long-lost relative left you money? Beware of inheritance scams, The Wichita Eagle, August 21, 2015.
