Next of Kin Banking Inheritance Scam Targeting the United Kingdom
Scammers contact UK residents claiming to represent a bank or solicitor handling a deceased relative's dormant account or unclaimed estate, demanding fees before releasing supposed inheritance funds.
Part of: Next-of-Kin Banking Inheritance Scam
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
The UK genuinely maintains systems for unclaimed estates and dormant accounts, and the Government Legal Department's Bona Vacantia list is real and free to search, which is what makes the British version of the inheritance scam persuasive. A letter, email, or call claiming to be from a high street bank, solicitor, or government office announces a deceased distant relative and an entitlement for the 'next of kin,' dressed in accurate probate terminology; some scammers point victims to a genuine Bona Vacantia entry under a similar surname. The distinction that matters most: the real process never charges upfront fees to release an estate.
How this scam works on the United Kingdom
A letter, email, or phone call arrives claiming to be from a UK bank, solicitor, or government office stating that a distant relative has died leaving a dormant account or unclaimed estate, and that as 'next of kin' the recipient is entitled to a share once administrative or legal fees are paid upfront. The scam often references genuine-sounding UK legal terminology, such as probate, letters of administration, or the Government Legal Department's Bona Vacantia list of unclaimed estates, to appear credible, sometimes even directing victims to check the real Bona Vacantia website to see a genuine unclaimed estate listed under a similar name. Victims are asked to wire a fee to 'unlock' or 'process' the inheritance, and after paying, either face requests for further fees or are simply cut off from contact.
Common red flags
- A request for any upfront fee before an inheritance or dormant account balance can be released
- Reference to the UK Bona Vacantia list or a UK bank without a verifiable direct contact number matching official records
- Contact from a 'solicitor' whose firm cannot be found on the Solicitors Regulation Authority register
- Pressure to act quickly because the estate will otherwise revert to the Crown or be forfeited
- Requests to pay fees via wire transfer or gift cards rather than through a solicitor's verified client account
- Vague or inconsistent details about the claimed deceased relative's identity or connection to you
How to protect yourself
- Search the UK Government's own Bona Vacantia unclaimed estates list directly on gov.uk rather than trusting a link sent to you
- Verify any solicitor's credentials through the Solicitors Regulation Authority register before proceeding
- Remember that legitimate UK probate and dormant account claims do not require you to pay a fee before funds are released
- Contact UK banks directly using numbers from their official websites to verify any claimed dormant account
- Consult a UK-based probate solicitor of your own choosing rather than one suggested by the person contacting you
- Report suspicious contact to Action Fraud, the UK's national fraud reporting service, before sending any money
How to report it
- Report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or by phone
- Verify and report solicitor impersonation to the Solicitors Regulation Authority
- Report to the Government Legal Department if the Bona Vacantia process itself is being misrepresented
- File a complaint with your bank to flag any payment already sent
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a named solicitor in the UK is actually registered?
Search the Solicitors Regulation Authority's public register using the solicitor's name and firm. If they don't appear, or the firm's details don't match, treat the contact as fraudulent regardless of how official the correspondence looks.
What should I do if I've already paid a fee to someone claiming to release a UK inheritance?
Report it to Action Fraud and to your bank as soon as possible, and stay alert to follow-up contact asking for additional fees, since scammers often continue targeting people who have already paid once.
Can I search the Bona Vacantia list myself to see if I'm entitled to anything?
Yes, the list is public on gov.uk, but appearing on it doesn't mean you're automatically entitled to funds. A genuine claim requires proving your relationship to the deceased through official probate channels, not through an unsolicited contact offering to process it for a fee.
Does the UK really have a list of unclaimed estates from deceased people without a will?
Yes, the UK Government Legal Department publishes a genuine Bona Vacantia list of unclaimed estates on gov.uk, but claiming a legitimate share requires proving genealogical entitlement through official channels, not paying an upfront fee to an unsolicited contact.
Is it normal to pay a fee before receiving a UK inheritance?
No, legitimate UK probate processes deduct fees and legal costs from the estate itself once funds are released, rather than requiring the beneficiary to pay money upfront before anything is disbursed.