No, You Didn’t Just Inherit $1 Million

News flash: that e-mail you got saying your long lost uncle in Brazil left you a large inheritance is a fraud. Yes, a fraud. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. And don’t worry, you can thank us later for saving you thousands of dollars from these Internet scams.

We hear it all the time. You get a random e-mail promising you large sums of cash for a small “transfer” or “compliance” fee. For a moment, there’s a brief sense of excitement - like winning the lottery. But why would someone you don’t know contact you about an inheritance from someone you’ve never heard of living in a country you’ve never been to before? Because it’s a scam - plain and simple.

The other common ploy we often hear about is the scam “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” who needs you to send them money to help with rent or childcare expenses. What happens when, after a few months, you plan a trip to visit them in Brazil? Voila! They suddenly disappear.

Doing even a little due diligence - asking the right questions - can save you from falling for these scams. Ask for their photo ID so you can verify their identity. If it’s a Brazilian person, ask for their CPF; if it’s a Brazilian business, ask for their CNPJ. Odds are, with just a few questions, your new friend will stop messaging you.

A little bit of commonsense and some digging online goes a long way. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.