Scam for sure. Report it to the FTC http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/index.shtml Pretty much anything that comes to you out of the blue via email, mail, by phone or even at your door asking you to send money to claim something is a fraud trying to get your money. Trash it, ignore it, or report it to the feds.
If it was somebody at your door then also call the police immediately because it may also be someone casing homes for burglary or robbery or worse. You may just save some elderly neighbor's life and property and stop a serial criminal. Give the police a solid description of the person.
