Va. Warns of New Scam Promising Inheritance

Virginia officials are warning residents about a new email scam promising recipients a big inheritance from a deceased relative.

The state Treasury Department says the fraudulent email's sender is listed as a National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators auditor, Alexis James. The association employs no one by that name.

The message promises a large sum of money that can be claimed in exchange for detailed personal information. Officials say there is no inheritance, and the personal information is usually used to steal the victim's identity. In some cases, the victim also is asked to pay a processing fee that is typically stolen.

The Treasury Department says state and federal unclaimed property programs never contact potential unclaimed property owners in this manner.