ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Seniors vs Crime St. Johns County and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office have issued a scam alert after a community member received a deceptive international inheritance letter. The fraudulent mail promises an $11 million payout in exchange for cooperation.
The letter was confirmed as an advance-fee scam after a resident brought the document to authorities for review. Officials warned that legitimate financial institutions, legal entities, and government agencies do not contact beneficiaries out of the blue through unsolicited international mail asking to split funds.
The physical letter was delivered through La Poste, the French international mail service, even though the sender claimed to represent a legal and financial firm located in Madrid, Spain. The correspondence claims that €9,950,000, or about $11 million, was left behind by a deceased individual sharing the recipient’s last name. The sender offers a 50/50 split of the money, claiming there is no potential legal risk.
Law enforcement identified several key red flags in the mailing. The letter relies on a generic Gmail address rather than an official corporate email domain. It also demands strict confidentiality to prevent recipients from discussing the matter with family members or police.
Authorities urge residents not to respond to any email addresses or phone numbers listed in the mailing. Recipients should never send bank details, personal identification or upfront processing fees.
Anyone receiving suspicious correspondence is advised to verify the claims independently and consult a trusted family member, attorney or local law enforcement agency.
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