can you be named a deceased next of kin by an attorney if you have same surname but no relation?

Question

i have been sent several e-mails asking for my name to be used in a claim to a deceased inheritance with whom i share the same surname. the deceased has no next of kin and the person who sends e-mails is the acting attorney, he claims that it is legal and the inheritance will be split 40/60 in favour of the attorney, seems to good to be true but is it legal

Answer 1

Please please be very wary of ANY email coming from some one saying that you are a possible next of kin to my client etc, who has died in some tragic way, car accident, shot, etc.

These emails are fraudulent emails, and often ask you for your bank details and or money to have so called funds etc released to you.

I have received 3 such emails, and when I traced them back to the so called "company" "lawyer's" etc they were non existent. And strangely they had the same name, but the details of how they died conflicted.

While it would be nice think it was legitimate, but alas there is some money hungry people out there who will do any thing to get our hard earned money.

Take care

Answer 2

Print off all emails, get the attorney to give you his details, then check them out with the Law Society or its equivalent whereever you are, then phone the company on the landline and verify the existence of your contact and that the contact has the same information in person as they had online.

Then find out where they found out your surname, and then how they found your email - not an easy thing to do, and a very unusual way for a bona fide law firm to make contact with anyone.

Next, wait until they ask you for your full names, address and personal information such as your social security number/ PPS number/ whatever your equivalent of those are, and your banking information (and you KNOW they will ask for this info eventually).

Then, with all your research done, you can take whatever action you deem necessary.

You have to know this is shady and a complete con job. Remember the old sayings "Everything that glitters is not gold" and "If it looks too good to be true, it probably is"...

Be careful!

Answer 3

It is too good to be true. It's a con e-mail. Lots of people get them. You will be charged a 'shipping fee' or the like and then the 'acting attorney' will disappear. Anyway, getting money off a deceased guy who has the surname as you is a bizarre idea that really would never work - and it's unethical.

Answer 4

The very second you get one of these type messages you should flush it down the c r a p p er. That said - - - no you cannot claim based solely on name but if you truly have an unusual name and are less than one generation removed from a particular country, it doesn't hurt to check things out - - - independent of whoever contracted you - - -. But that said, this has scam all over it.

Answer 5

This will go to probate court and if you can prove you're next of kin regardless of your last name then you will inherit.

It's a long drawn out process so don't make any plans yet.

You just can't make a claim.....'cause then everybody would do it.

Answer 6

Dont tell me - from Nigeria and the guy has been killed in an accident and no living relative - delete the email my friend - its a SCAM. They get your bank details and empty your account - you get nothing and lose everything xxx

Answer 7

It's a scam, forget about it or go along with and drag it on as long as you can just to slow them down.

i've read about this exact scam but can't find it again do a search on "scams"and you can read all about it.

Answer 8

*sniff sniff* - I smell a scam. Dont give out any of your details and delete the emails.

Answer 9

I don't think you can be named a deceased anything until you're dead....

Answer 10

It's a scam, ignore it. i get them all the time.