Inheritance Romance Scam
A fraud combining a manufactured romantic relationship with a fake unclaimed inheritance, pressuring victims to pay fees to access non-existent funds.
Also known as: inheritance advance fee romance, legacy romance scam
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
The inheritance romance scam typically begins with a romantic connection online. After trust is established, the scammer reveals a complicated personal situation: a large sum of money is stuck in a foreign bank or legal process — an inheritance from a deceased relative, a business payout, or frozen overseas assets. The scammer presents the victim as the logical partner to help unlock or receive these funds.
Fees for lawyers, government officials, customs clearance, or banking compliance are then requested. Each payment is followed by a new complication requiring another payment. The supposed inheritance and the romantic relationship both evaporate once the victim stops paying or alerts authorities.
This scam blends advance-fee fraud mechanics with a romantic bond, doubling the emotional stakes. Victims may feel that abandoning the process means abandoning the relationship as well as the promised money.
Examples
- An online partner from West Africa explains they have inherited a large sum but need legal fees paid by someone overseas to release the funds; they offer to share the inheritance with the victim once it is accessible.