| If you received a circular in the mail from an estate | | | | they paid to claim it. |
| locator describing that you received an inheritance, be | | | | You can guard yourself against this scam by checking |
| careful. You could be the focus of a cunning scam | | | | other sources before sending any money to an |
| artist. | | | | estate locator. Check with your family members |
| It would be nice if you received a huge inheritance | | | | about any recent deaths. You can also check with |
| from a long-lost friend or family member. It does | | | | the local Better Business Bureau, the State Attorney |
| happen but not too often. | | | | General's office, or the U.S. Postal Inspection service |
| "Research specialists" is the term to describe these | | | | if there are any complaints regarding this kind of |
| white collar criminals. However, they did not find you | | | | activity. |
| by doing research at all. You are simply a focus of | | | | Remember that you should never have to pay a fee |
| mass mailings for many people nationwide. Thousands | | | | to find out about your share of an estate. Reputable |
| of people having the same surname receive a notice | | | | law firms and executors of wills will never ask you to |
| that a huge inheritance has been located in their | | | | send them money for a processing fee. If you |
| names. Many of these people are suckered into | | | | believe you have been a victim of a crooked estate |
| mailing a fee around $30 or $40 for an estate report. | | | | locator scheme, of if you received a notice saying |
| This report will spell out where the inheritance is | | | | that you are a recipient of an inheritance, contact |
| located and how they can claim it. The person running | | | | your local postal service, Better Business Bureau, or |
| this scam may also offer to process the claim for | | | | State Attorney General's office. |
| yet another fee. | | | | There are lots of consumer fraud schemes out there. |
| All the people on the mailing list receive the exact | | | | It is up to you, the consumer, to educate yourself to |
| same information. If somebody on the mailing list | | | | recognize what is and is not legitimate. Hopefully our |
| does claim his right to the inheritance, the amount is | | | | advice will help you minimize becoming a victim to the |
| usually very small and many times less than the fee | | | | crime of fraud or theft by deception. |