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  • Geebo 9:00 am on December 5, 2025 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: funeral expenses, , ,   

    Grief, Trust, and a Bill That Never Existed 

    By Greg Collier

    Every loss brings heartbreak, and scammers are now exploiting that heartbreak for cash.

    A Moment of Mourning and a Lie You Never Saw Coming

    When a loved one passes, families lean on funeral homes to help guide them through the worst week of their lives. Arrangements get made. Plans are finalized. Payments are settled. It’s one of the few moments where certainty feels possible.

    And that’s exactly when fraudsters strike.

    Across Southwest Virginia, grieving families are receiving fraudulent phone calls from criminals impersonating funeral directors—claiming there’s a sudden problem with the arrangements and demanding immediate payment to “avoid cancellation.”

    It’s financial abuse disguised as urgency.

    Three funeral homes have reported these fake calls, including Simpson Funeral Home & Crematory. One family hung up, sensed something was off, and canceled their cards just in time. Another family wasn’t so lucky—they lost $1,200 to the scam.

    “It’s a horrible, horrible situation,” co-owner Bradley Simpson said. “You’ve already lost a loved one, and then you’re being taken advantage of. It’s just piling on.”

    The calls feel legitimate. The pressure sounds real. But the demands?
    They’re pure fiction.

    What’s Going On

    A family arranges a funeral. They believe everything is settled.

    Within hours—or even days—scammers insert themselves into the process.

    • Fraudsters call pretending to be the funeral home, sometimes even referencing real arrangements.
    • They claim an “unexpected deposit” or “processing error” has occurred.
    • They threaten to delay or cancel services unless immediate payment is made.
    • Payments are routed through credit cards or direct transfers and vanish instantly.
    • Meanwhile, real funeral homes never made these calls at all—they learn about the scam only after the damage is done.

    As Trey Finch of the Virginia Funeral Directors Association explains:

    “Payment arrangements… are generally discussed face-to-face. You should not be receiving calls hours or days later.”

    Roanoke County Police have now opened an investigation.

    Why It Works

    • Emotional vulnerability: Families in mourning are overwhelmed, exhausted, and trying to honor a loved one. Scammers exploit that moment.
    • Borrowed authority: Funeral directors are trusted figures. When a caller imitates one, people rarely question it.
    • Urgency and fear: Threats to “cancel” or “delay” a funeral weaponize pressure. No one wants disruption during a memorial.
    • Payment confusion: Many families aren’t familiar with funeral billing processes, making surprise charges feel plausible.
    • Private arrangements: Because funerals are not public events, families often assume they must quietly resolve unexpected issues.

    Red Flags

    • Any request for payment over the phone after arrangements are already completed.
    • A caller claiming there’s an “urgent problem” with your service contract.
    • Threats to cancel or postpone funeral services.
    • Pressure to act immediately or provide credit card details.
    • Calls from phone numbers that don’t match your funeral home’s official listing.
    • Requests for payment methods funeral homes never use, such as digital transfers or prepaid cards.

    Quick Tip: Funeral homes do not add last-minute charges by phone. If someone is pressuring you for payment, hang up and call your funeral home directly using the number on your paperwork—not the number that called you.

    What You Can Do

    • Verify first. Contact your funeral home directly to confirm any claim.
    • Trust your instincts. If the call feels off, it probably is.
    • Document everything. Save the phone number, the time of the call, and what was said.
    • Alert local law enforcement. Roanoke County Police are already investigating cases.
    • Warn family members involved in the arrangements so they don’t fall for the scam.

    If You’ve Been Targeted

    • Contact your bank or credit card company immediately to dispute fraudulent charges.
    • File a police report—this helps investigators track patterns.
    • Notify your funeral home so they can alert other families.
    • Keep all documentation, including call logs and receipts.
    • Warn your community, especially older relatives or those handling arrangements alone.

    Final Thoughts

    Losing someone is hard enough. Scammers know that—and they’re weaponizing grief to steal money while families are at their most vulnerable. These calls aren’t just financial fraud; they’re emotional exploitation.

    In moments of mourning, the best protection is clarity. Verify every request. Slow down the pressure. Call the funeral home directly.

    Grief deserves compassion, not manipulation.

    Further Reading

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on February 26, 2025 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , funeral expenses, , ,   

    Scammers Prey on Grieving Tulsa Family 

    Scammers Prey on Grieving Tulsa Family

    By Greg Collier

    Losing a loved one is one of life’s most painful experiences, and in the midst of that grief, the last thing a family expects is to become the target of a cruel scam. But for one Tulsa family, that is exactly what happened. While struggling to cover the costs of a funeral, they were deceived by a scammer who preyed on their vulnerability, using publicly available obituary information to pose as an insurance representative.

    The ordeal began when a caller claimed that a long-lost insurance policy had been discovered in the name of a deceased relative. The promise of a financial payout seemed like an unexpected blessing, offering relief during an already difficult time. However, the supposed payout came with a catch. Before the family could receive their funds, they needed to cover a ‘deductible’ fee. Desperate for the financial support they were assured was coming, they scraped together what they could, even pawning personal belongings to meet the scammer’s demands.

    Almost immediately after sending the money, doubt crept in. The caller’s tone changed, and communication became rushed and evasive. It became clear they had been tricked, and instead of receiving the large sum of money they were promised, they were left with nothing but financial loss and heartbreak.

    This tragic deception is not an isolated case. Scammers routinely comb through online obituaries, extracting personal details to manipulate grieving families. With names, relationships, and other sensitive information readily available, these fraudsters craft convincing stories to exploit those already facing emotional turmoil.

    Consumer advocates warn that this type of scam is on the rise, and they urge people to be cautious when receiving unexpected financial promises. If someone claims that a loved one has left behind money, experts advise verifying the legitimacy of the claim by independently contacting the alleged agency or company. Most importantly, they stress one key rule. If you are asked to send money in order to receive money, it is almost certainly a scam.

    For this Tulsa family, the pain of their loss has been compounded by the betrayal of a stranger who took advantage of their grief. But by sharing their experience, they hope to prevent others from falling victim to the same cruel scheme.

    As funeral homes and consumer protection agencies work to raise awareness, the message is clear. Always verify before you trust, and never let desperation override caution. In moments of vulnerability, scammers see opportunity, but with knowledge and caution, families can protect themselves from further loss.

     

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

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

    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 expenses, , ,   

    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 May 24, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , funeral expenses, ,   

    Is there any scam worse than a funeral scam? 

    Is there any scam worse than a funeral scam?

    By Greg Collier

    We’re never in a more vulnerable state than after the loss of a loved one. It’s even worse when the loss was unexpected. Nobody ever wants to arrange a funeral. Unfortunately, for most of us, it’s an inevitability. Whether it’s a spouse, a parent, or even a child, no one ever wants to have to discuss the financial details of having their loved one laid to rest. For scammers, this is just another opportunity for them to use emotional manipulation to trick grieving families into giving them money.

    In Georgia, a family almost lost $14,000 after falling prey to a funeral scammer. Some scammers keep an eye on the local obituaries. When someone passes and their obituary is published, scammers will pose as employees of the funeral home. The scammers will tell their victims there’s been an error in billing and the victim needs to pay more money. They’ll often show up at the victim’s home to collect the payment in cash or check.

    In the Georgia case, the suspects were arrested after they had difficulty trying to cash the check. In previous instances of this scam, we’ve seen scammers make it appear as if they were holding the remains of the deceased hostage until the victim made a payment.

    In order to protect yourself from such a scam, it is recommended to get an itemized bill from the funeral home that shows exactly how much services cost.

    Whenever you receive a call from someone requesting an unexpected payment, it is crucial to verify their claims. Do not automatically assume the call is authentic merely based on the displayed caller ID. Take the initiative to contact the business or agency directly, as they will provide guidance regarding the legitimacy of the caller’s demands.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on April 19, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , funeral expenses, , ,   

    Funeral home impersonation scam victimizes widow 

    Funeral home impersonation scam victimizes widow

    By Greg Collier

    We’ve posted some absolutely heart-wrenching scams lately. One that stands out is the scam where con artists tried to collect imaginary tax debts from the families of the recently deceased. The one we’re about to discuss is much worse. This scam tries to take advantage of the grieving before a proper funeral has even occurred.

    A woman from the San Diego Metro Area recently lost her husband at a much too young age. The husband also left behind their two-year-old son. Before her husband could even be buried, she received a call from someone saying they were with the funeral home.

    The caller asked the woman for a $50 payment, claiming it was for some type of insurance in case a funeral home worker were to get injured. The phone number was spoofed, so it appeared the call was actually coming from the funeral home.

    The caller the started pressuring the woman to make a payment then and there over the phone. She was told that she couldn’t come down to the funeral home, she couldn’t pay in cash, and had to pay by credit card over the phone.

    After not giving the caller any money, they called back again to tell the grieving widow that they were refusing her service because she was so ‘rude’ to them. The panic she experienced must have been unimaginable while trying to figure out what to do after a funeral home has refused service.

    To her credit, she made some phone calls and determined the whole thing was a scam.

    When someone is grieving, they’re at their most vulnerable time of their life. As we know, scammers prefer to target the vulnerable, hoping that their victims are in such an emotional state they’re not thinking straight.

    Any time you receive a call from someone asking for any kind of surprise payment, verify their story. Don’t believe the call is legitimate just because the caller ID shows the correct number. Call the business or agency directly, and they’ll be able to advise you on the veracity of the caller’s request.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on June 8, 2021 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , funeral expenses, ,   

    Scammers are combing obituaries for new victims 

    By Greg Collier

    As we have discussed before, if you’ve lost a loved one to COVID-19, you could be eligible to have part or all of the funeral expenses paid for under FEMA’s American Rescue Plan. Under the plan you could be reimbursed up to $9,000 for funeral expenses. As you can probably guess, this has led scammers to try to take advantage of the program. In order to accomplish that, scammers need not only the information of the deceased, but the information from the surviving family members as well.

    The way scammers achieve this is by posing as FEMA agents or the organization itself. Scammers will send out robocalls, emails and text messages posing as FEMA asking victims to contact them. Any contact information the victims are given does not go to FEMA but to the scammers instead. The victims will not only be asked for personal information concerning themselves and the deceased., but they may be asked for an upfront payment disguised as a ‘processing fee’. It’s already been documented that scammers have tried to obtain the death certificates of COVID-19 victims so they can try to claim the program money for themselves.

    According to the Better Business Bureau, scammers are even combing the local obituaries to get as much information about the deceased and their families as possible. However, this scam does have its drawbacks if you know a couple of items of information. Government agencies like FEMA very rarely initiate first contact, and if they do, they will do so through traditional channels like postal mail.

    If you have lost a loved one to COVID-19 and require financial assistance for funeral expenses, you have our most sincere condolences. If you would like to apply for FEMA’s assistance you can do so at FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance webpage.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on April 21, 2021 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , funeral expenses,   

    Was a death certificate stolen for a FEMA scam? 

    Was a death certificate stolen for a FEMA scam?

    By Greg Collier

    Back in February, we discussed how scammers stopped a federal assistance program from being rolled out. As of the time of our previous post, FEMA had not started their funeral assistance program for people who passed away from COVID-19 in 2020. Due to the amount of fraud that was affecting state unemployment systems during the pandemic, FEMA decided to hold back while they came up with a potential solution. Earlier this month, FEMA announced that they would begin processing applications for funeral assistance, and it looks like the scammers may have already started to try to take advantage of the system.

    A woman in Tennessee lost her husband late last year to COVID-19. He was working the frontline as a nurse when he contracted the virus. Even though it’s been a number of months, his widow is still dealing with the loss of her husband. She recently received a call asking if she had sent her husband’s death certificate to Texas. She had not and believes that someone was using her husband’s death certificate to try to apply for FEMA benefits in his name. When this potential scam was first announced we wondered if all it would take to scam FEMA would be a forged or stolen death certificate.

    Unfortunately, there’s not a lot that you can do to protect yourself from this scam. If you ever had the unfortunate experience of arranging a funeral for a loved one and handling their estate, you know that you have to provide a copy of the deceased’s death certificate to a number of different people. The only thing that FEMA seems to be recommending at this point is that if you’ve been scammed you can call FEMA at 800-621-3362.

    Sadly, this again shows that scammers will try to take advantage of any situation no matter how devastating it may be to the victim. When scammers reach a new low like this, we’re both surprised and yet not surprised. Scammers know no bounds of human decency and will try to take advantage of anyone as long as it can make them some money.

     

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