Inheritance / 'Locked Fortune' Romance
An online partner claims to have a large inheritance or fortune tied up abroad and needs your money to release it — promising to share it with you.
Think a message like this reached you? You can check it right now.
What this scam is
Your online partner reveals they are due a large inheritance or have wealth frozen abroad, and only a fee — legal costs, taxes, a bank release — stands in the way. They promise to share the fortune once it is freed, so 'lending' the fee feels like an investment in your shared future. The fortune does not exist; each fee leads to another. It combines a romance scam with a classic advance-fee con.
What it usually looks like
- A partner with a large inheritance or frozen fortune.
- A fee needed to 'release' the funds.
- Promises to repay and share once it clears.
- Fake bank or lawyer messages backing the story.
Common warning signs
- A fortune that requires your money to unlock.
- Escalating fees and new obstacles.
- Documents from 'banks' or 'lawyers' you cannot verify.
- Pressure framed as your shared future.
Example wording scammers use
“My late father left me $2.4M, but the bank needs a release fee. Help me and it's ours, my love.”
“The lawyer says one more payment and the inheritance is freed — I'll pay you back tenfold.”
These are illustrative examples written by ScamSplain, not real messages.
What the scammers want
- Advance 'fees' toward a nonexistent fortune.
- Your emotional buy-in to a shared windfall.
- Repeat payments.
What to do
- Never pay fees to release someone else's 'inheritance.'
- Do not send money to an unmet online partner.
- Verify any 'bank' or 'lawyer' independently — expect it to be fake.
- Talk to someone you trust.
What to do if you already responded
- Stop payments and keep all records.
- Contact your bank/providers about transfers.
- Report to ic3.gov and reportfraud.ftc.gov.