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SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California.

January 13, 2022

OBITUARY SCAMS

Aarp/ftc

Why would crooks be scanning newspaper obituaries?

There are at least three reasons

Crooks often seem to strike at the worst possible times and that’s certainly the case when they use newspaper obituaries to target victims. They have at least three ways of relieving bereaved families and their friends of their money and possessions.

First, thieves use the announcements to discover details of funeral arrangements and then burglarize victims and grieving relatives while their homes are empty during the ceremony.

Next, those same obituaries may be used by scammers to collect cash from bereaved spouses.

Usually at these times, bereaved relatives haven’t had time to sort through the financial affairs of the deceased and will often agree to pay, usually by credit card, though in one case, they were asked to supply a signed blank check. Credit card details, of course, can also be used for other identity theft.

Action: Don’t make any payments during this distressing time. If anything seems to be urgent, ask for a copy of the supposed bill and then ask a trusted friend to check it out for you.

A similar sort of trick is used in a third party obituary scam, only this time the crooks obtain lists of mourners and contact them, supposedly on behalf of the bereaved person, requesting a financial donation, sometimes to a phony charity.

Action: Don’t make payments in response to an incoming solicitation from an unknown charity. Make any donations directly to the individual or their nominated charitable cause.

Action: Don’t include your full name or address in obituary announcements. You can ask a neighbor to keep watch on your home for thieves while you are away.

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