Is an email from a law firm saying I am named in a will real?
Unsolicited emails claiming a distant relative named you in a will are an advance-fee fraud. Legitimate estate solicitors do not contact beneficiaries by cold email.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Explanation
The unclaimed inheritance scam relies on the small but plausible chance that you have a distant relative whose estate needs a beneficiary. A fake law firm or solicitor's email says you share a surname with a deceased client who left a substantial estate. To proceed, you are asked to pay legal fees, taxes, or document preparation costs. The firm name is fabricated or cloned from a real firm. No inheritance exists. Genuine probate solicitors locate beneficiaries through official genealogy records and government probate services — they verify your identity in person and never request payment before confirming entitlement.
Common red flags
- Cold email from a law firm you have never heard of
- Claim of inheritance from a distant or unknown relative
- Request for upfront legal fees or taxes to release the estate
- Vague details about the deceased that change between messages
What to do now
- Do not pay any fee
- Search the law firm name and jurisdiction independently to verify registration
- Contact the country's probate court if you believe an inheritance may be real
- Report the email to your national consumer fraud authority
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to be named in a will by a stranger?
It is possible but rare. Genuine cases are handled through official probate channels and solicitors who can be verified on their professional register — never by a cold email.