Funeral and Obituary Scams
Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, according to the FTC.
Quick Answer
Funeral and obituary scams exploit the grief of surviving family members by using information from death notices to commit fraud and identity theft, contributing to the $1.1 billion lost to imposter scams in 2023 (FTC).
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How It Works
1
Scammers monitor online sources, local newspapers, and funeral home websites for recently published obituaries. They harvest personal details about the deceased, such as full name, date of birth, address, and names of surviving family members.
2
The scammer contacts a grieving family member, often by phone, impersonating a legitimate entity. They may pose as an employee of the funeral home, a debt collector, a government agent, or an insurance representative.
3
The imposter creates a false sense of urgency, demanding immediate payment for a fabricated outstanding debt, a last-minute funeral service fee, or a required insurance policy. They pressure the victim to pay using untraceable methods like wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
4
In other variations, criminals use the deceased's personal information to commit identity theft, also known as 'ghosting.' They may open new lines of credit, file fraudulent tax returns for a refund, or apply for loans in the deceased person's name.
Red Flags
- You receive an unsolicited call demanding immediate payment for a supposed debt or service related to the deceased.
- The caller pressures you to pay using wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or gift cards.
- The person claims to be from the funeral home but the request is unexpected; for example, they allege a credit card was declined and demand alternate payment immediately.
- You are contacted by a supposed 'long-lost' friend or relative of the deceased who quickly pivots to requesting money.
- Someone claims you must pay a fee to receive an insurance payout or inheritance.
- You discover unexpected bills or credit card activity for accounts opened after your loved one's death.
- The caller refuses to provide their name, a callback number, or detailed written documentation for the alleged debt.
What to Do If Targeted
- Never provide personal or financial information in response to an unsolicited phone call or email.
- Resist pressure to act immediately. Hang up and independently verify the claim by calling the funeral home or agency directly using a number from an official website or document you already have.
- Do not make payments via wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency. Legitimate businesses will not demand payment through these methods.
- Limit the amount of personal information you share in an obituary. Exclude details like the deceased's exact date of birth, mother's maiden name, or home address.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) of the death to prevent fraudulent accounts from being opened.
- Request a copy of the deceased's credit report shortly after their passing and again a few months later to check for fraudulent activity.
How to Report It
- FTC — File a fraud report with the Federal Trade Commission if you encounter or lose money to this scam.
- FBI IC3 — Report online scams and internet crime to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
- IdentityTheft.gov — Report identity theft and get a personalized recovery plan from the FTC.
- FCC — File a complaint about phone scams, robocalls, or unwanted calls with the Federal Communications Commission.
- AARP Fraud Helpline — Call 877-908-3360 for free support from trained fraud specialists. Available to anyone, not just AARP members.
Key Statistics
- Americans over age 60 reported losses of over $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023, an 11% increase from the previous year. — FBI IC3 2023 Elder Fraud Report
- The average loss per victim over age 60 was $33,915 in 2023. — FBI IC3 2023 Elder Fraud Report
- Reported losses to business and government imposter scams, the category that funeral scams fall under, topped $1.1 billion in 2023. — Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 2024
- Nearly 800,000 deceased individuals are targeted for identity theft each year. — Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Scammers scan obituaries for personal details like the deceased's name, birth date, and family members' names. They use this information to sound credible when they call survivors to demand fake debts or to commit identity theft by opening credit accounts in the deceased's name. (AARP)
In most cases, you are not personally responsible for the debts of a deceased relative from your own assets. Debts are typically paid by the person's estate. Be wary of any caller who pressures you to pay a loved one's supposed debts personally and immediately. (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)
Ghosting is a form of identity theft where criminals use a deceased person's personal information to open new lines of credit, file fake tax returns, or apply for loans. This fraud can go undetected for a long time because the victim is not alive to monitor their own credit. (AARP)
To protect against scams, omit sensitive personal data from an obituary. Avoid publishing the deceased's exact date of birth, home address, mother's maiden name, and other details that could be used to answer security questions or steal their identity. (AARP)
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