According to consumer advocacy group AARP, recent scam reports show con artists are preying on the grief and vulnerability of families who have just lost a loved one. Andrew Judd, the chief executive of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD), is encouraging people to be vigilant against scams. Now more than ever, it’s important to beware and report all suspicious behaviors. Virtual funeral services are a hot spot for scammers to take advantage of the increasing demand. They demand payment cloaked in deception, compounding trauma for already grieving families.
Few funeral directors would even think of charging for livestreaming, which is often still done free of charge. Now nefarious actors have started charging a £10 fee to access virtual funeral services. In a time of mourning, families may unknowingly provide their credit card details on fraudulent websites, which often feature separate pages requesting financial information. Judd reiterated that you should always be suspicious of offer links from outside sources. He cautioned that these connections sometimes lead you to services that request financial donations.
Understanding the Scam
The deceit takes advantage of those who are grieving enough. It can give them a misleading sense of urgency and need to bamboozle them. When families are in mourning and most vulnerable, they can easily become victims of these fraudulent schemes. The scammers manipulate victims with threats or false promises to get them to reveal bank accounts or other confidential information, adding stress to an already extremely difficult situation.
Judd emphasized the emotional impact that these scams have on their victims. He stated, “the public should be extremely wary of any external links supposedly promoting one and asking for money.” This Consumer Alert is meant to remind the public that even in times of tragedy, people need to be on the lookout for possible scams.
Katherine Hart, communications officer with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), took it a step further. She pointed out that “what’s particularly upsetting is that victims often feel they can’t report what’s happened for fear of adding further stress to grieving families.” This lack of oversight and scrutiny empowers these bad actors to perpetuate their fraudulent activities with impunity.
Reporting Scams
If you think you were scammed with a funeral scam, DON’T WAIT! Help protect yourself, and others, by reporting any suspicious activity you see. You can contact Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting center for fraud and cyber crime. Get in touch with them through their website or by calling 0300 123 2040. Luckily for these residents, they have free access to often-professional animation services.
In Scotland, people can call Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 for help. In Northern Ireland, you can call Consumerline on 0300 123 6262. These resources are a critical lifeline to those impacted by this type of fraud and deception.
Hart encourages individuals to “speak out, report concerns and protect others from becoming a victim.” By raising awareness and sharing information about these scams, communities can help safeguard their members from falling prey to such schemes.
Staying Vigilant
As scams adapt, we must all do our part to keep families and individuals aware and on their guard against these emerging threats. Judd stressed the importance of vigilance: “We need people to stay vigilant, share warnings and report anything suspicious.” Awareness campaigns focused on educating the public about these scams can reduce their impact and help protect grieving families from additional hardships.