Advance Fee Fraud
Classic bait-and-switch: you're promised a fortune — an inheritance, a lottery win, a loan approval — but first you need to pay 'fees' to release it. The fees never end, the money never arrives. The modern versions wear new clothes but follow the same 100-year-old pattern.
How it worksThe anatomy of the scam
Every case follows roughly the same playbook. Recognize the pattern, stop it early.
1. The unbelievable offer
An email, letter, or call tells you you've been approved for a loan, inherited money from a dead relative, or won a lottery.
2. A small 'release' fee
To claim your reward, you just need to cover processing, taxes, or legal fees. Usually a few hundred dollars.
3. The fees multiply
Each payment unlocks a new obstacle: bank charges, anti-money-laundering fees, certificate costs, insurance.
4. The collapse
You run out of money or patience. The 'agent' disappears. The reward never existed.
Warning signsRed flags to watch for
If you're seeing two or more of these, assume it's a scam until proven otherwise.
Money you didn't expect
Inheritances, loans, and lottery wins that come out of nowhere are fiction.
Upfront fees
No legitimate lender or lottery charges you to receive money.
Foreign bank accounts
Wire transfers to unfamiliar countries are almost never recoverable.
Poor grammar in official letters
Real banks and law firms use professional language.
Protect yourselfDo this. Not that.
✓ Do
Verify any 'inheritance' notice by contacting the probate court or bar association directly.
✗ Don't
Never wire money to claim a reward or loan.
✓ Do
If it sounds too good to be true, assume it's fiction until proven otherwise.
✗ Don't
Don't share bank details to 'receive' funds from strangers.
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