Police issue urgent warning over scam involving forged documents—are you at risk?
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In an age where trust is a currency as valuable as any, a disturbing trend has emerged, targeting the most vulnerable.
The New South Wales Police have sounded the alarm on a scam that threatens family trust and security: the forging of wills and estate documents.
This scam is a stark reminder that even in our most personal affairs, vigilance is paramount.
The Illawarra community in Sydney has been the recent target of such scams, with police issuing an urgent warning to its elderly residents.
Scammers have been reported forging wills and other estate documents, seeking to illegitimately claim assets that rightfully belong to others.
Earlier in the year, Wollongong officers received reports of these fraudulent activities, and investigations are still ongoing.
Will fraud is a serious crime that involves deceptive conduct during the preparation of a will.
Executor fraud, on the other hand, occurs when the person appointed to administer an estate uses deceitful practices to misappropriate estate assets.
This can manifest in various ways, such as creating false statements, fabricating documents, or even manipulating a person with limited mental capacity to sign a will.
The NSW Police have highlighted several examples of estate fraud.
‘Other examples of estate fraud include: a person signing a will that was a different document than they intended to sign, a person signing a will when they limited mental capacity, and an executor could pay themselves advances or unreasonable expenses from the estate,’ the NSW Police said in a statement.
These acts are not only criminal but also a betrayal of trust at a time when individuals should be able to rely on the integrity of their loved ones and appointed executors.
If you or someone you know has been affected by these types of scams, or if you have any information that could help, you are urged to come forward to the police.
In a previous story, a lawyer was found by a tribunal to have committed misconduct by influencing his 91-year-old client to sign a will in his favour.
However, the lawyer maintained that his actions aligned with his client’s wishes. You can read more about the story here.
Have you or someone you care about experienced issues with wills or estate fraud? Share your experiences in the comments below.
The New South Wales Police have sounded the alarm on a scam that threatens family trust and security: the forging of wills and estate documents.
This scam is a stark reminder that even in our most personal affairs, vigilance is paramount.
The Illawarra community in Sydney has been the recent target of such scams, with police issuing an urgent warning to its elderly residents.
Scammers have been reported forging wills and other estate documents, seeking to illegitimately claim assets that rightfully belong to others.
The police have reported a new scam involving forged documents. Credit: Shutterstock
Earlier in the year, Wollongong officers received reports of these fraudulent activities, and investigations are still ongoing.
Will fraud is a serious crime that involves deceptive conduct during the preparation of a will.
Executor fraud, on the other hand, occurs when the person appointed to administer an estate uses deceitful practices to misappropriate estate assets.
This can manifest in various ways, such as creating false statements, fabricating documents, or even manipulating a person with limited mental capacity to sign a will.
The NSW Police have highlighted several examples of estate fraud.
‘Other examples of estate fraud include: a person signing a will that was a different document than they intended to sign, a person signing a will when they limited mental capacity, and an executor could pay themselves advances or unreasonable expenses from the estate,’ the NSW Police said in a statement.
These acts are not only criminal but also a betrayal of trust at a time when individuals should be able to rely on the integrity of their loved ones and appointed executors.
If you or someone you know has been affected by these types of scams, or if you have any information that could help, you are urged to come forward to the police.
In a previous story, a lawyer was found by a tribunal to have committed misconduct by influencing his 91-year-old client to sign a will in his favour.
However, the lawyer maintained that his actions aligned with his client’s wishes. You can read more about the story here.
