Someone Offered Me $11.5 Million Through CrunchyFin’s Contact Form Here’s What Happened

A few nights ago, I opened the CrunchyFin inbox and saw something wild. A man named “Ahmet,” claiming to be a Turkish bank staff member, messaged me through CrunchyFin’s contact form. He said a person from my country had died in the recent Turkey earthquake and left behind a fixed deposit of $11.5 million. The bank, he said, didn’t know the man had passed away and if I helped him fake a legal claim as the “next of kin,” we could split the money. I’d get 60%, he’d take 40%, and the whole thing would be legal, risk-free, and confidential. Oh and he needs the money for his daughter’s surgery. Sounds emotional, urgent, and kind-hearted, right? That’s the scam. It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book. Here is the full email :

This is called a “dead relative inheritance scam”, and it’s been around for decades. Scammers usually send it by email, but this one came through my website. That means if you’re running a blog or business online, you could be next. These scammers aren’t dumb. They use real tragedies like earthquakes, wars, and disasters to trigger emotion. They promise huge money, guilt you into helping, and then quietly ask for “processing fees” or your personal ID. People send ₹5,000 or ₹50,000 thinking they’ll get ₹85 lakh and lose everything instead.

Let’s be clear: there was no Ahmet, no Turkish bank, and no $11.5 million. There’s just a scammer with a script, looking for a kind, desperate person to fall for it. And sadly, many do. They target people who are stressed, hopeful, or just too polite to say no. That’s why I’m writing this because even one person avoiding this trap is worth it.

Here’s how you can protect yourself: never reply to messages that sound too good to be true. Don’t share your Aadhaar, PAN, or bank account with strangers. Don’t send money to “unlock” fake inheritances. And if you have a website, protect your contact forms with Google reCAPTCHA or spam filters. These messages will come. Let’s make sure they don’t win.

At CrunchyFin, we’re not here to chase fantasy money. We’re here to help real people solve real financial problems. Whether you’re building an emergency fund, dealing with medical expenses, or saving ₹10 at a time that’s where the true victory is. I laughed when I got the $11.5 million offer, but then I thought: what if someone else believes it? What if someone else sends money they can’t afford to lose?

That’s why I shared this. Not to entertain but to protect.

If you found this helpful, share it with a friend or family member who needs to hear it. And if you ever get a message like this, now you know: just delete it, and smile. You’re smarter than the scam.