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  • Geebo 9:00 am on November 21, 2024 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , funeral, funeral livestream,   

    The Unthinkable World of Funeral Scams 

    By Greg Collier

    In a world where we often lean on shared humanity during moments of grief, it’s difficult to imagine anything more sacred than a funeral. These ceremonies offer solace, remembrance, and a chance for loved ones to honor the departed. Yet, even in these deeply personal moments, scammers have found a way to intrude, exploiting sorrow and generosity for their gain.

    Two particular schemes have emerged as glaring examples of how nothing is off-limits to those driven by greed. Both prey on vulnerability and compassion, capitalizing on the chaos and emotion that accompany loss.

    The first scam, increasingly prevalent online, targets grieving families and friends through fake funeral livestream invitations. Leveraging the widespread use of social media, fraudsters mimic the profiles of deceased individuals or create fake tribute pages. These pages invite friends and acquaintances to view a funeral service livestream, but accessing the supposed stream requires entering credit card information. The charges, often disguised as small verification fees, evolve into recurring payments buried in fine print. Once victims realize the deception, they are left not only out of pocket, but also grappling with anger and betrayal during an already fragile time.

    Equally troubling is a scam that plays out in person at busy intersections. Individuals hold signs featuring a child’s photograph, accompanied by desperate pleas for funeral donations. These images and stories tug at the heartstrings, compelling passersby to give what they can. But these narratives, like the signs themselves, are fabricated. The supposed grieving family doesn’t exist, and the money collected goes straight into the pockets of the scammers.

    Both scams reveal a grim reality that even the most sacred moments are not immune to exploitation. These schemes prey on our best intentions, weaponizing grief and compassion to serve selfish ends. They target not only those who are mourning but also those who, in an act of kindness, attempt to help. Those who fall victim to these schemes may feel ashamed, but the blame lies entirely with the perpetrators who engineered the fraud.

    In combating these scams, awareness can be a powerful deterrent, as knowledge of these tactics makes them less likely to succeed. By staying informed and supporting others in recognizing these schemes, communities can protect themselves and preserve the sanctity of moments that should remain untouched by deceit.

    No corner of life is too sacred for scammers, it seems. But while their greed knows no bounds, neither does the potential for people to stand together, informed and resolute, against such exploitation. Grief may be universal, but so too is the resolve to safeguard our most cherished moments from those who would defile them for profit.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on June 19, 2024 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: 411, , funeral, ,   

    Ticket scam keeps widow from husband’s funeral 

    By Greg Collier

    A 79-year-old widow from Central Florida missed her husband’s funeral due to a sophisticated scam. She had cherished 59 wonderful years with her late husband.

    Her husband passed away in March, and the family had planned to lay him to rest in their family cemetery in Wisconsin. The widow, along with her son and grandson, was scheduled to fly from Orlando-Sanford International Airport to Appleton, Wisconsin, on June 1. However, a medical emergency forced her to miss the initial flight. Determined to attend her husband’s funeral, she had to book a last-minute ticket on her own.

    Admittedly, not being tech-savvy, she dialed 411 to get the contact details for the airline. She was connected to a man who claimed to be from the airline, and explained her urgent need for a flight. The man quoted an exorbitant price of $988 for a roundtrip flight, citing the funeral as a reason for the inflated cost. He even provided what seemed to be a legitimate airline boarding pass with a confirmation code.

    She arrived at the airport with her confirmation code. The ticket counter accepted the code, issued her a boarding pass, checked her luggage, and even provided wheelchair assistance through TSA. Yet, when it was time to board, she was left at the gate.

    An airline supervisor broke the devastating news that her ticket was not valid. The supervisor claimed the widow was not the first of their customers to be scammed in this way. Additionally, the scammers had charged her card over a dozen times in small amounts, totaling roughly $2,000. Although her luggage made it to Appleton, Wisconsin, she missed her husband’s funeral.

    Airline customers should book directly through the airline’s official website to avoid falling victim to such scams. To ensure you have the correct customer service number, visit the airline’s website and obtain the number directly from there.

    If you rely solely on a web search for the airline’s phone number, there’s a high probability you could end up calling a scammer, as they often place ads on search engines to pose as airlines. Additionally, while calling 411 used to be a reliable way to get correct phone information, this service has largely been phased out by most phone providers.

    To protect yourself from scams, always verify the identity of who you are calling before providing any personal or financial information. Double-check phone numbers directly on the airline’s official website, and be cautious of search engine ads and outdated services like 411. Taking these extra steps can help ensure your safety and peace of mind when making travel arrangements.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on March 5, 2024 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: funeral, , , ,   

    There’s yet another scam targeting grieving families 

    By Greg Collier

    Over the past year or so, we’ve really taken notice of the number of scams that prey on the families who have recently lost loved ones. In our opinion, these are the most reprehensible scams of all. Scammers often prey on the vulnerable, and there’s no one more vulnerable than someone who’s lost a cherished family member. Among these reprehensible tactics, scammers have posed as funeral homes, attempting to extort money from grieving families. Additionally, there have been instances of scammers trying to sell funeral plots they have no ownership over and others scheming to unlawfully claim the homes of the deceased’s family members. Unfortunately, it appears that scammers have now turned to local obituaries as a means to identify and target their victims.

    In December of last year, a Florida woman lost her father. In her moment of mourning, scammers targeted her with a sophisticated scheme designed to exploit her vulnerability and steal her money and personal information.

    The scam began innocuously enough with a letter purportedly from the local power company, expressing condolences for her loss and advising her to remove her father’s name from the account. Assuming the letter was legitimate, the victim contacted the number provided, where she spoke with a woman who claimed to represent the power company. The supposed power company rep informed the victim that she needed to open a new account rather than simply changing the name on the existing one, a request that initially raised suspicions but was rationalized as part of the process.

    Trusting the rep’s assurances and desperate for assistance during her difficult time, the victim divulged all her personal information, including her name, address, social security number, and date of birth. Believing she was following the correct procedures, the victim made a payment of $367 via credit card as instructed, relieved to have the matter seemingly resolved.

    Shortly after the fraudulent interaction, the victim found herself inundated with notices from the power company, asserting that her account was overdue and threatened with imminent termination of her power service. Alarmed, she reached out to the power company using the number provided on her bill, only to be informed that she had fallen victim to a scam.

    The scammer, cunning in their approach, not only managed to deceive the victim into divulging personal information but also swiftly closed her existing account while simultaneously opening a new one online during their conversation. This calculated move served a dual purpose, not only did it facilitate identity theft by acquiring the victim’s personal information, but it also extracted a payment from the victim.

    One can speculate that the scammer’s decision to open a new account on behalf of the victim was strategic, intended to prolong the victim’s realization of being duped. By creating this delay, the scammer likely aimed to buy themselves more time to exploit the victim’s trust and extract further financial gain.

    Always verify the legitimacy of any communication received, especially if it concerns sensitive matters like finances or personal information. When in doubt, contact the company or organization directly using verified contact information. Use the phone number provided on official documents or the company’s official website, rather than numbers provided in unsolicited communications.

    By staying informed, exercising caution, and verifying the legitimacy of communications, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of falling victim to scams like this one. Remember, it’s better to be overly cautious than to become a victim of fraud.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on January 30, 2024 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: funeral, , , ,   

    The worst funeral scam, so far 

    The worst funeral scam, so far

    By Greg Collier

    One of the increasingly troubling trends in fraudulent activities involves schemes specifically targeting grieving families. Instances have arisen where scammers systematically scour obituaries to identify vulnerable individuals. Subsequently, these scams progress from deceiving mourners by collecting fake donations during funeral services, impersonating funeral home representatives to extort additional funds from the deceased’s family, selling non-existent burial plots, to attempting to fraudulently steal the homes of grieving individuals. Recently, we encountered a particularly disrespectful scam, which we deem the most egregious funeral scam yet. The term “yet” is used cautiously, as scammers, devoid of respect or remorse, may introduce even more unsettling schemes in the future.

    A Texas man has been apprehended on charges of operating an unlicensed funeral home. The alleged scam involved the accused approaching grieving families, assuming the role of a sympathetic funeral home director who claimed to be a close friend of the deceased. Exploiting the trust gained, he offered his funeral services, persuading families to provide life insurance policies with payouts directed to himself.

    The extent of the deception didn’t stop there. In addition to misappropriating insurance funds, the scammer also accepted money from families for burial and funeral services. Shockingly, some funerals never transpired, and the scammer retained the bodies of the deceased. Disturbingly, certain families, expecting cremation for their loved ones, are now uncertain if the ashes they possess truly belong to the intended individuals. Authorities are actively addressing these fraudulent activities, seeking justice for the affected families.

    It’s disheartening that in the present times, one must approach offers of assistance during challenging moments with a sense of suspicion. Regrettably, this reflects the reality of the world we live in today. To safeguard yourself from potential scams, there are proactive steps you can implement. When confronted with a seemingly miraculous offer of help, it’s advisable to exercise a healthy level of skepticism. In such situations, it doesn’t hurt to be cautious and thoroughly evaluate the legitimacy of the assistance being offered.

    Before engaging with any funeral home, verify its credentials. Check if it is licensed and accredited by the appropriate state authorities. Seek recommendations from friends, family, or colleagues who have had positive experiences with reputable funeral homes. If you are approached by someone claiming to be a funeral director, independently verify their credentials. Licensed funeral directors should have valid licenses issued by the state.

    Insist on a detailed, written contract that outlines all the services, costs, and payment terms. Legitimate funeral homes are transparent about their services and fees. If a funeral director requests life insurance information, contact the insurance company directly to verify the legitimacy of the transaction. Schedule a visit to the funeral home before making any financial commitments. This allows you to inspect the facilities, meet the staff, and ask any questions you may have.

    By taking these precautions, grieving families can reduce the risk of falling victim to scams and ensure that they receive the respectful and legitimate services they deserve during a difficult time.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on December 21, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: funeral, , gravestones, headstones,   

    Serial scammer rips off grieving families 

    By Greg Collier

    Over the past couple of years, families who have lost loved ones have had it even worse thanks to scammers. If it’s not the phone calls from fake funeral home employees, it’s scammers selling funeral plots they don’t own, or the family having their home stolen from them. If you thought those could be the only scams perpetrated against grieving families, you’d be mistaken.

    A man from Pennsylvania is wanted by the Delaware State Police for allegedly selling gravestones to grieving families and not delivering them. According to the DSP, the man reached out to families who recently lost loved ones and would meet them at the cemetery. There, he would design a gravestone for the deceased and would collect money from the family.

    Later, the man would send a letter to the family stating his business went bankrupt and could no longer make the gravestone. Unfortunately, this is not the first time this scammer was caught conning grieving families. He’s forbidden from doing business in Pennsylvania after conducting a similar scam and may have had victims in New Jersey as well.

    Again, grief is one of the most difficult emotions to process. What may seem like a kind stranger offering their help could be a scammer in disguise. When choosing any kind of service regarding the loss of a loved one, such as funeral homes etc., research the service first before committing any money. Do a web search on the name of the service with qualifiers such as ‘reviews’ and complaints.

    If the process of arranging a funeral and the surrounding responsibilities get to be too much while you’re grieving, don’t be afraid to reach out to a friend or family member for help and support.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on December 7, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , funeral, , mourning, ,   

    Scammer tried to steal homes of grieving families 

    Scammer tried to steal homes of grieving families

    By Greg Collier

    It wasn’t more than two weeks ago where we posted what, we thought, was the lowest scam we’ve ever heard of. That was when scammers were selling funeral plots to grieving families when the scammers didn’t own the plots in the first place. Now, we may have found one that is possibly even lower than that.

    An Indianapolis man was recently indicted on 16 separate federal charges. The suspect is believed to have targeted grieving families after finding their deceased loved one’s name in the obituaries. For two years, he’s believed to have tried to force these grieving families into selling their homes.

    As per the county prosecutor’s office, the accused tried to coerce the sale of a homeowner’s property, camouflaged a $50,000 bank loan, and employed forged heirship documentation.

    In one instance, the suspect is accused of forging a sales agreement to force a woman in a nursing home to sell her home to him. In another instance, the suspect is accused of forcing a woman with short-term memory loss to lend him $50,000 with no intention of paying it back.

    Scammers often target victims who are in a state of emotional crisis. The goal here is to pressure the victim into making a decision that benefits the scammer, that often appears as a way to help the victim.

    While these scams may have been isolated to the Indianapolis area, it probably won’t be long before someone else tries it while thinking they can do it better.

    Since this is somewhat uncharted territory, we don’t have any concrete ways of protecting yourself from such a scammer. However, we do have some suggestions. If you’re still mourning the loss of a loved one, take as much time as you need to grieve. If you feel like someone is pressuring you into making a financial situation during that time, research whatever they’re offering when you’re ready to. If you have a parent who lost their spouse, and they also have cognitive disabilities, you may want to look into assuming guardianship or power of attorney. While it may appear to them that you’re taking away some of their freedoms, it may protect them in the long run.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on November 22, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: funeral, grave scam,   

    Scammers are selling funeral plots they don’t own 

    By Greg Collier

    A sudden death in any family is impossible to prepare for, especially when the person died too young. Tragically, that’s what a family from the Atlanta area recently found out when their 15-year-old son fell to a gunman’s bullet. If it wasn’t painful enough that they lost a son to gun violence, now their son may have to be moved from what they thought was his final resting place.

    The boy’s family paid for a plot and a marker, and had receipts from the sale. When the family went to visit the boy’s grave, no marker had been placed. When they asked the cemetery why the grave marker wasn’t there, the family was told there was no record of the family purchasing the marker or the plot. The plot where the boy was interred belonged to someone else. All the paperwork the family had was fraudulent.

    This family weren’t the only victims. Investigators discovered that 20 other families had been scammed as well. Police believe an employee, or employees, of the cemetery may have been behind the scam.

    Unfortunately, this is not the first funeral-related scam that’s come to our attention. We’ve seen stories of scammers who go into random funerals and start collecting money they claim is for the family before taking off. Then there are the funeral home scammers that have been plaguing the country recently. They pose as funeral home employees and try to extort money from grieving families. Funeral scams are some of the lowest scams anyone can perpetrate on unsuspecting victims, but this funeral scam is the lowest of the low.

    Unfortunately, since this is the first we’ve heard of this scam, we don’t have any solid advice on how to protect yourself and your family from it. Grief is one of the hardest emotions to experience, so it’s understandable how people may not be in their right mind when making sudden funeral arrangements. The best advice we can give is to reach out to a friend or family member for support. And if you’re dealing with a cemetery, you may want to make contact first with the cemetery’s director before making any payment.

     

  • Geebo 8:01 am on August 14, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: funeral, , ,   

    Funeral home scams garner national headlines 

    Funeral home scams garner national headlines

    By Greg Collier

    You know a scam must be bad when one of the national news networks covers it. NBC News is warning its viewers and readers of one of the most despicable scams going today, the funeral home scam.

    Most people aren’t familiar with the scam, since it only targets families who have recently lost loved ones. As much as we deny it to ourselves, there will unfortunately come a day when we have to assist in laying a loved one to rest. It’s better to be aware of the scam now, then having to experience it for the first tile while you’re mourning.

    Fraudulent individuals exploit obituaries of recently departed individuals for their schemes. These obituaries often include the funeral home responsible for the deceased’s final arrangements. These scammers manipulate the situation by falsifying the funeral home’s contact number and contacting the grieving family under the pretense of representing the funeral home. Their usual approach involves asserting that there are discrepancies in the billing or that an extra insurance payment is required. They swiftly proceed to demand an instant payment via phone. Shockingly, there have been cases where these scammers go to the extent of implying that they will withhold the deceased’s remains until the payment is settled.

    In NBC News’ report, they detail the stories of two people who were targeted by scammers during the worst time of their lives. In the first story, scammers targeted a woman who had just lost her husband of 22 years the day before. They claimed she owed the funeral home an additional $5000, but she could pay $2500 first through Zelle or Apple Pay. The victim tried to make payments, but they kept getting flagged as suspicious. Luckily, her son overheard the conversation and advised her to end the call.

    In the other story, scammers called a woman making arrangements for her husband while she was at the funeral home. The scammers had spoofed the number of the funeral home and were using the name of an actual funeral home employee. The funeral director got on the phone and identified herself, which caused the scammers to hang up.

    In the regrettable circumstance of having to arrange a funeral for a cherished individual, it is advisable to secure a comprehensive breakdown of expenses from the chosen funeral home. This practice can significantly contribute to safeguarding both you and your family from falling victim to such deceptive scammers.

    Also, please keep in mind legitimate funeral homes, and most businesses, will not ask for payment through a mobile payment app like Zelle. In the unfortunate event, you receive a phone call like this while arranging a loved one’s funeral, hang up and call the funeral home directly.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on June 29, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: funeral, , , ,   

    New scam becomes disturbing trend 

    By Greg Collier

    Let’s just come right out and say it. Funeral scammers are ghouls. Most people are at their lowest emotional point when they’re confronted with having to inter a loved one. Since scammers use emotional manipulation as one of their tools, they’ve decided that when families are grieving is the best time to target them in a scam. But not just any scam, mind you. Scammers are specifically targeting the funeral home process to try to extort money from their victims. And unfortunately, this scam is starting to become even more prevalent.

    Funeral scammers will comb the obituaries of the recently deceased. Traditionally, obituaries will contain the name of the funeral home that’s taking care of the deceased’s funeral proceedings. While spoofing the funeral home’s phone number, scammers will call the deceased’s family claiming to be from the funeral home. Typically, the scammers will say an item was left off the billing or that the family needs to pay some form of additional insurance before asking for an immediate payment over the phone. In some instances, the scammers will even act like they’ll hold the deceased’s remains hostage until a payment is made.

    Recently, funeral scammers targeted a family from the Philadelphia area. Just hours after the deceased’s obituary had been published, scammers were calling the family looking for money. The scammers used a funeral home employee’s name they had gotten from the funeral home’s website. They told the family urn/casket insurance had not been purchased and would need to be done so immediately. Thankfully, the family recognized this for what it was, and hung up the call. They called the funeral home themselves just to verify they had spoken to a scammer.

    In the unfortunate event you have to plan a funeral for a loved one, it’s recommended to get an itemized statement from the funeral home. This will go a long way in helping to protect you and your family from these scammers.

    It’s a shame the grieving have to be warned about funeral scams, but unfortunately, that is the world we live in today.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on June 8, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , funeral, , , , ,   

    Scam Round Up: Money recovered in Social Security scam and more 

    By Greg Collier

    We’re starting off with a pretty grim scam today. We’ve posted about it before, but it seems to be becoming more common, so we thought we’d remind our readers about it. We’re talking about the funeral home scam. Scammers have been going through obituaries and targeting the families of the recently deceased. As a family is in the process of grieving, scammers will call them, posing as whatever funeral home the family is using. The scammers will claim the family needs to make an additional payment before their loved one could be interred.

    Scammers are constantly looking for victims who may be emotionally vulnerable, and what’s more emotional than the passing of a loved one. If you receive a phone call like this, please keep in mind that in most instances, financial arrangements are always handled at the funeral home itself. Hang up on the call, and call the funeral home directly to verify if there are any issues.

    In our second scam story, the summer months can bring about their own scams. One of those is the car wrapping scam. This is when scammers will offer to pay you for wrapping your car with advertisements. In the majority of cases, this is just an avenue for scammers to send their victims a fake check. The victim will be sent a check and told to deposit in their bank account. Then they’re told to use that money to pay the car wrap vendor through apps like Venmo or Cash App before the victim’s bank discovers the check is fraudulent. This leaves the victim on the hook to their bank for the full amount of the check and any associated fees.

    Lastly, a woman from Louisiana was one of the lucky ones recently as authorities were able to recover over $100,000 from a Social Security scam. The woman received a call from who she thought was the Social Security Administration. The news report didn’t say what the scammers were asking payment for, but typically in this scam, the scammers threaten the victim by claiming the victim’s benefits will be cut off if they don’t make the payment.

    The victim wired $146,000 to the scammers’ bank account, but police were able to work with the bank to recover $122,000 of the woman’s money. However, this is the exception and not the rule. In many scams that involve banks, the banks see the transactions as legitimate since they were made by the customer, even if it was done under duress.

    If you receive a call from the SSA, the odds are that caller is a scammer. Hang up the phone, then call the SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213 and let them know what the caller said. If there really is an issue, the SSA will contact you by mail first.

     

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