Just when you think you’ve seen the worst in humanity, Scammers succeeded in reaching new lows.
Did you think the Facebook scam where scammers are taking over people’s Facebook profiles with fake bereavement posts is bad? It’s getting worse.
A sad woman hugging a man (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutsson)
New bereavement fraud techniques
While the Facebook post scam was carried out, fake While bereavement posts are often posted to gather information about friends, family members, and even strangers who have been supportive, this new scam targets the actual surviving family members of the recently deceased. Masu. Scammers contact families posing as funeral directors, demanding additional payments or threatening to cancel the funeral.
Already under extreme stress from the loss of a loved one, it’s easy to imagine how distraught loved ones could fall for a scam like this. As the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issues a warning to the funeral industry, here are important steps you can take to prevent you or your loved ones from falling for this scary scam.
1. Pause before taking action
Like most scams, this scammer takes advantage of the fact that your immediate urgency will prevent you from thinking first. They hope that by leaving you vulnerable and giving you an ultimatum, you will take action before the victim or her family thinks twice.
This scam is particularly insidious. Because who would think of preying on the family of someone who recently passed away? Forewarned is forearmed. So, knowing that this scam has taken place will help you stop if you come across such a situation.
man on the phone (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
2. Contact the funeral home directly
Because anyone can change the name on the calling number (the phone number you receive calls from), your caller ID may say it’s from the funeral home you hired.
If you’re not sure, just say you’ll call back right away and hang up. Find the number on the quote or invoice you received directly from the funeral home and call to check on the situation. Funeral home contact information can be found on the general price list provided by the funeral home.
Scammers are using fake news and malicious links to lure you into emotional Facebook phishing traps
3. Red flags regarding payment types
Scammers will not easily provide you with the urgent payments you need. They tend to ask for weird things like wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrencies, and even check refunds, and they claim that there was a clerical or mechanical error with the bank to send the check, and they send the check back to the bank. I will request that you leave it there before sending it. I’ll bring it back.
This is all to prevent them from tracking the money or preventing it from being recovered. Funeral directors were required to confirm the types of payments they would accept when provided with a general fee schedule. If you deviate too much from the most common payment methods, hang up.
person with bitcoin (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutsson)
More information: How to stop phone number spoofing and protect yourself from scammers
4. There are no surprises at funerals.
Life is full of surprises, but a funeral home shouldn’t be one of them. These are regulated by the FTC in order to provide consumers with explicit pricing and information. A complete description of his FTC oversight in this area can be found at the following link: “Funeral Rules”.
As mentioned in number 2 on this list, each funeral director must provide a general price list and must disclose the prices of all services involved in the funeral and most aspects of the funeral. . If a scammer calls you requesting a new price for a service or item, remember that all of these elements should be provided along with the general price list and agreed upon when you hire the funeral director. Please.
Friends and family who attended the funeral (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
5. Report scammers to the FTC
While it may seem worthwhile to lash out at scammers, it’s not worth the time, energy, and further invasion of your privacy. You have no idea what information these scammers are collecting during your conversations. It is best to hang up and report it as soon as possible. Contact the FTC here.
6. Use identity theft prevention services
To protect yourself from potential scams, especially those related to funeral scams, consider using an identity theft protection service. This is more important to you than the deceased’s personal or financial information.
Identity theft companies monitor your personal information, such as your social security number, phone number, and email address, and alert you if it is sold on the dark web or used to open an account. It can also help freeze bank and credit card accounts to prevent further misuse by criminals. Check out our tips and recommendations on how to protect yourself from identity theft.
Read more: This Facebook Messenger phishing scam is stealing millions of passwords
Surviving the Aftermath: Preserving the Legacy of a Loved One
Consider these important precautions to protect your family’s privacy and financial well-being from scammers after a loved one passes away.
Draft your obituary carefully. When writing an obituary, omit sensitive details that could be misused. identity theft. Avoid including the deceased’s date of birth, place of birth, middle name, maiden name, mother’s maiden name, and home address. Also, to prevent theft during the funeral, please do not mention the date and time of the funeral.
Please report it to the social security agency immediately. If a loved one passes away, notify the Social Security Administration immediately by calling 800-772-1213. This step ensures that your benefits are processed properly.
Notify the IRS: Send a copy of the death certificate to the IRS. This allows authorities to flag the deceased’s tax accounts and prevents fraud.
Notify your financial institution: Contact the bank or other financial institution where your deceased loved one had an account. If you would like to close these accounts, please request that they be marked as “Closed: Account owner has died.”
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Alert the credit bureaus: Contact the major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, to request that a death notice be placed on the deceased’s credit file. This step helps prevent fraudulent credit applications.
Monitor your credit report. Obtain a copy of the deceased’s credit report immediately after the death and again several months later. Regular checks can help detect fraudulent activity.
Debt processing: Be careful not to let debt collectors intimidate you into paying your deceased spouse, parent, or sibling’s financial obligations. Generally, debts are the responsibility of the estate, not the surviving family. However, there are exceptions for joint loans and jointly held financial accounts. Please contact the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for specific guidance.
Please be careful about your contact information. Be careful if you are contacted by a “long-lost” relative or friend of the deceased, especially on social media. Verify the identity by asking family members or old friends if they recognize the person.
Cart important points
Scammers have a knack for finding new ways to prey on the vulnerable. Fighting off scammers is the last thing you want to do while grieving the death of a loved one, but it’s important to stay informed so you can spend your time and energy doing what really matters: remembering your loved one who has passed away. It’s important to have access to and empower.
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