Fake Inheritance Fee Scams via Western Union
How inheritance fraudsters direct victims to send 'clearance fees' through Western Union to claim a fake bequest.
Part of: Fake Inheritance Fee Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
In the Western Union variant, a supposed estate official tells the victim that a small clearance or courier fee must be sent via Western Union before a large inheritance can be delivered. The cash-transfer method is framed as the fastest way to release the funds.
Western Union transfers can be collected at agent locations worldwide within minutes and are difficult to recover, making them ideal for fraudsters. No legitimate estate requires beneficiaries to send Western Union fees to claim a bequest.
How this scam works on Western Union
The victim is told they are entitled to a large inheritance, but a courier or government clearance fee must be paid by Western Union to release or deliver the funds. The amount is kept relatively small to seem reasonable against the promised windfall.
The victim sends the transfer to a named recipient and shares the tracking number, which the scammer uses to collect the cash. New fees — 'customs,' 'insurance,' 'final release' — follow each payment.
The inheritance never arrives. Each transfer is collected before the victim can intervene, and the promised estate was fictional throughout.
Common red flags
- You must send a Western Union fee to release a claimed inheritance
- The fee is small relative to a large promised windfall
- You are asked to share the Western Union tracking number
- New fees follow each payment with new justifications
- The recipient is an individual in another country
- Pressure to act quickly to avoid losing the inheritance
How to protect yourself
- Treat any inheritance requiring Western Union fees as a scam
- Never send a transfer or share a tracking number to claim a bequest
- Verify any estate claim through your own legal counsel
- Be skeptical of windfalls from strangers or distant relatives
- If you sent funds, contact Western Union immediately to attempt to stop the pickup
- Keep the receipt and tracking number as evidence
How to report it
- Report to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or your local equivalent
- Call Western Union's fraud hotline to report and attempt to halt the transfer
- Report to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov
Frequently asked questions
Why do these scams use small fees for a huge inheritance?
A small fee against a large promised windfall feels low-risk and reasonable, which lowers the victim's guard. Once you pay, new fees follow endlessly. No genuine inheritance is released by sending Western Union fees to a stranger.