Beware of Inheritance Tax Scams: How to Protect Yourself and Your Legacy

Scammers never take a day off, and one of their favorite targets is anyone who might be expecting (or hoping for) an inheritance. Fake “inheritance tax” demands are one of the fastest-growing scams today because they prey on excitement, grief, and confusion all at once.

At Claim My Legacy, we’ve made it our mission to keep families safe by exposing these scams and giving you simple, clear ways to spot them before you lose a dime.

The Truth About Inheritance Tax (That Scammers Don’t Want You to Know)

The federal government does not have an inheritance tax for 99.99% of Americans. You only owe federal estate tax if the estate is worth more than $13.61 million (2024 threshold, adjusted yearly). Most states have no inheritance tax at all, and the few that do only tax beneficiaries on amounts well into six or seven figures.

Translation: If someone is demanding “inheritance tax” money from you up front, it’s almost certainly a scam.

How Inheritance Tax Scams Work

The con is always the same formula:

1. You’re told you’re getting a surprise inheritance (or winning a foreign lottery, or a distant relative left you millions).

2. Before the money can be “released,” you have to pay taxes, legal fees, or processing costs which are usually a few thousand dollars.

3. You’re rushed with deadlines and threats (“Pay today or lose the inheritance forever!”).

4. They want payment via wire transfer, gift cards, Bitcoin, or prepaid debit cards because these methods are impossible to reverse.

Once you pay, the money vanishes and the “inheritance” never existed.

Three Common Inheritance Tax Scams (and the Red Flags)

1. Impersonation of IRS Agents, Lawyers, or Estate Executors

You get a call or email from someone claiming to represent the IRS, a law firm, or an estate. They may even know the name of a deceased relative. They congratulate you on a big inheritance—then say you must pay thousands in “taxes” or “release fees” immediately.

Red flags:

• Real IRS agents never call demanding instant payment.

• Legitimate lawyers don’t ask for fees via Walmart gift cards or Cash App.

• Pressure tactics and countdown deadlines are pure scam theater.

2. Phishing Texts or Emails with Fake Links

A text pops up: “IRS Notification – Inheritance tax due on $1.2M estate. Click to pay or claim refund.” The link takes you to a convincing-looking website that steals your info or infects your device.

Red flags:

• The real IRS will never text or email you a payment link.

• Hover over any link then look. Does the URL say irs.gov exactly? If not, close it.

• Typos, bad grammar, or generic greetings (“Dear Customer”) are dead giveaways.

3. The Fake Relative on Social Media

Someone messaging you from what looks like a family member’s verified Facebook or Instagram account says a long-lost cousin died and left you millions but you have to wire the inheritance tax first.

Red flags:

• Legitimate estate business is never handled through DMs.

• Hackers often take over real accounts. Call your relative on a known number to verify.

Five Golden Rules to Stay Safe

1. Never pay money to receive money.

2. Never click links or open attachments about unexpected inheritances.

3. Never share Social Security numbers, bank details, or passwords over phone/email/text.

4. Always verify through official channels (call the IRS directly at numbers listed on irs.gov, or contact a trusted estate attorney).

5. When in doubt - slow down. Scammers hate delays.

The Best Defense? A Real Plan with Claim My Legacy

The surest way to make yourself scam-proof is to have your own bulletproof estate plan in place. When you and your loved ones already have trusts, wills, and clear instructions through Claim My Legacy, surprise “inheritances” from strangers lose their power and no one in your family will ever fall for these tricks.

Want to learn more and lock in real protection for your family (not fake promises from scammers)? Join one of our free educational webinars. Families from across all 50 states have already attended and left with total peace of mind.

👉 Register for a free Claim My Legacy webinar today and start protecting what matters most. Because your legacy should go to the people you love and not a criminal halfway around the world.