As an estate planning attorney who's handled probate litigation for 25 years, the most sophisticated scam I encountered targeted elderly clients through fake "estate tax emergency" calls. These scammers had somehow obtained detailed information about my clients' assets, family structures, and even referenced specific trust provisions from what appeared to be legitimate legal documents. The scammers posed as IRS agents claiming immediate estate tax penalties were due, demanding wire transfers within hours to avoid "asset seizure." What made this terrifying was their accuracy—they knew my client's children's names, approximate asset values, and even mentioned our law firm by name. One client nearly wired $87,000 before calling me first. I caught the scam because real IRS communications about estate matters always come through written correspondence first, never urgent phone demands. The IRS also doesn't threaten immediate asset seizure for estate tax issues—there's always a formal process with multiple notices. My single strategy is the "trusted advisor verification rule." Before making any financial decision based on urgent communications, always call a professional you already have a relationship with—your lawyer, CPA, or financial advisor. I tell all my clients to call me before responding to any "emergency" involving their estate plan, even if the caller claims to represent our firm.
Key Protection Strategy:
Hang up and call the official number listed on the organization's website to verify legitimacy.