I get lots of messages like this. There is a $20,000,000 transfer - contact so and so, etc. Some say to contact an email address and provide info to qualify for a "package" from some other country, etc. These all all scams. Usually the elderly fall for these, but sometimes they suck in younger people that are gullible. My mom and step dad (after they became elderly with dementia and sickness), and lots of other parents of people I know, got scamed by these people. Once scammed, their contact info goes onto a suckers list, which is sold to other scammers.
There is nothing that we could tell them that will cause them to understand they are being scammed. The only answer is to take control of the finances. I just can't understand why the Government won't step in and prosecute people that use the US mail for this purpose. I guess one reason is most operate from other countries, using mail, email and call centers to do their dirty work. By the way, familiar names like Publisher's Clearing House scam the elderly also imo, by sending unrequested merchandise and a bill. If the merchandise isn't sent back quickly, the bill must be paid or go to a collection agency.
I struggled with my parents for 6 years until dad died and mom's dementia forced me to put her into assisted living. I got control of her finances and put a stop to the scams. It was so bad that when she quit sendiing them money, they started writing checks to themselves using moms bank information. I had to close those accounts and open a new one.
My advice is to toss or delete any mail or email (don't open attachments) from anyone that isn't known and trusted and to not answer the phone from anyone you don't recognise on caller ID.
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If people concentrated on the important things in life, there would be a shortage of fishing poles, Hells Bay boats and Gator Caps.
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