Advance-Fee Scams in Italy
Classic 419-style advance-fee fraud reaches Italian residents through email, WhatsApp and social media, promising inheritances, lottery prizes or business deals.
Part of: Advance Fee Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Despite being one of the oldest forms of online fraud, advance-fee scams remain prevalent in Italy, with the Polizia Postale receiving thousands of reports annually. Scammers target Italian residents with elaborate stories about unclaimed inheritances from a deceased foreigner, stranded lottery winnings or international business deals requiring a trusted Italian partner.
The fraud is called 'truffa nigeriana' in Italian media, though perpetrators operate from many countries. Losses per victim can range from a few hundred to tens of thousands of euros as successive 'release fees' are invented.
How this scam works on Italy
An email or social-media message informs the victim they are the sole heir of a substantial estate, or that they have won a lottery they never entered. A lawyer or bank official asks for a modest advance fee to process documents through Italian or international customs. Fees are requested by wire transfer to a foreign account or via Western Union or MoneyGram.
Each payment is followed by a new obstacle — an Italian notary fee, a Central Bank clearance charge, import duties — keeping the victim engaged and paying. In some versions, a secondary scammer posing as an 'anti-fraud official' contacts the victim, promising to recover previous losses if they pay an additional fee.
The amounts requested are calibrated to the victim's apparent financial capacity, gleaned from social media profiles or earlier conversations.
Common red flags
- Unexpected notification of an inheritance or lottery win you know nothing about
- Request for advance payment described as a 'tax', 'legal fee' or 'customs charge'
- Urgency: the offer expires unless fees are paid within days
- Communication through personal email addresses rather than official institutional domains
- Request to keep the transaction strictly confidential
- Offers that promise millions of euros in return for relatively modest advance fees
How to protect yourself
- Understand that legitimate lotteries never require winners to pay fees upfront
- Do not wire money to anyone you have not met and verified in person
- Check unusual inheritance claims with a licensed Italian notary or lawyer
- Warn elderly family members who may be less familiar with these schemes
- Report suspicious emails without engaging with the sender
How to report it
- Polizia Postale: commissariatodips.it — online fraud complaint
- Local Carabinieri or Questura: file a 'denuncia' in person
- AGCM: agcm.it — consumer protection authority
Frequently asked questions
Is there any legitimate reason to pay fees to receive an inheritance in Italy?
Legitimate inheritance processes in Italy involve notarial fees, but these are transparent, come through official channels, and are never paid upfront to a stranger via wire transfer. Always consult a licensed notary ('notaio') for estate matters.