04/27/2026
Another Important PSA…..
This has already happened to a client we have worked with and it’s beyond low. It targets grieving family members into paying charges over the phone. Please read below and share.
How the scam typically works
1. Scammers scan recent obituaries online to get names of the deceased, surviving family members, funeral home name, and service details.
2. They call family members (often the next of kin listed) pretending to be from the actual funeral home handling the arrangements.
3. They use caller ID spoofing so the number and name that appear on your phone look legitimate (e.g., it shows the real funeral home’s number or a staff member’s name). Some even use voice spoofing or AI to sound more convincing. reddit.com
4. They claim there’s a problem with the funeral arrangements—usually that an additional “final payment,” “liability insurance,” “deposit,” or other fee is urgently needed right now, or the service will be canceled or delayed.
5. They pressure you to pay immediately over the phone with a credit/debit card, wire transfer, gift cards, crypto, or a payment app. Amounts mentioned are often in the hundreds or low thousands. wpsdlocal6.com
Important: Legitimate funeral homes do not call grieving families out of the blue demanding urgent payment over the phone like this. Any real balance due is discussed in person or through official, verifiable channels during the arrangement process. ftc.gov
The official website of the Federal Trade Commission, protecting America’s consumers for over 100 years.
