NEVADA CITY, CA – The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) and the Nevada County Adult Services Department are sharing a warning to Nevada County residents that a new scam, this one by mail, is attempting to lure recipients into sharing personal information by convincing them of an alleged inheritance waiting for them.

Adult Services reported to the Sheriff’s Office that several of their vulnerable clients have received official looking mail claiming to be from a legal office notifying of an alleged estate in which the mail recipient could claim their inheritance from a life insurance policy. The letter details that their former client and decedent had a “payable upon death” policy of approximately 10-million dollars, that is to be divided among persons with “surname similarity and shared nationality with the deceased” due to no direct next-of-kin exists. The letter claims that 10% of the funds will be allocated to charity organizations and the remaining 90% will be split between the law firm and the letter recipient.

Like many scams, this letter contains additional “red flags” that we urge citizens to be on the lookout for when receiving such solicitations, such as:

  • A foreign address and phone number directing recipients to contact the sender outside the U.S.
  • Pressure to respond quickly.

“Financial exploitation is the fastest-growing form of elder abuse. Your safety matters. If you or someone you know may be experiencing financial fraud, exploitation, or coercion, please reach out to us or the Sheriff’s office. We are here to help in collaboration – professionally, compassionately and without judgment,” said Adult Services Program Manager Kelly Carpenter.

Adult Services investigates reports on elder adults (60 years and older) and adults living with a disability and can be reached at 530-265-1639.  

We would like to remind our community members that legitimate agencies do not solicit beneficiaries in this manner, particularly across international jurisdictions. Attempted scams can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or https://www.ic3.gov/

If you believe you were a victim of a scam and experienced financial loss in a fraud, please contact the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office at 530-265-7880 or make a report online at https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/3057/Online-Crime-Reporting. If you suspect financial exploitation of an elder adult or adult living with a disability, contact Adult Services at 530-265-1639.