How it works

Scammers search obituaries for funeral details, including the name of the deceased, the names of the surviving family members, the date and location of the funeral, and the name of the funeral home. They then contact the grieving family member, claiming to be someone from the funeral home. They may even use spoofing software so that the actual name and/or number of the funeral home appears in the caller ID display. The scammer claims that a final payment for the funeral arrangements is owed and that if the money is not received immediately, the funeral will be canceled. The scammer will likely insist that the payment be made via wire transfer, gift cards, prepaid debit card, mobile payment app, or cryptocurrency.

What you should know

  • If you receive a call like this, HANG UP.
  • Then, look up the actual number of the funeral home and call to see if any additional money is really owed.