How it works: You receive a realistic-looking email, often with a subject line like "Funeral Notification" or "Passing of Your Friend," appearing to be from a funeral home.
The scam: Clicking a link in the email can install malicious software (malware) on your computer.
2. Scammers Exploiting Grieving Families:
How it works: Scammers read obituaries and target families by calling or attending the funeral service of a stranger.
The scam: They might claim the deceased had outstanding debts and try to extort money from the grieving family. Some dishonest funeral homes also try to add unnecessary charges to the bill, taking advantage of a family's lack of familiarity with funeral costs. For instance, they might insist a casket is needed even for a direct cremation, which can be done with a simpler container.
3. Impersonation Scams:
How it works: Scammers pretend to be from the funeral home and pressure families to pay more money immediately, threatening to cancel the funeral.
How to avoid this: Resist pressure to act immediately, verify the funeral home's contact information (do not use the number the scammer provided), and be cautious about payment methods like wire transfers or gift cards.
4. Targeting COVID-19 Victims' Families:
How it works: Scammers impersonate government officials, claiming they can help pay for funeral expenses under a COVID-19 funeral assistance program.
The scam: They try to obtain personal information (name, birth date, social security number) of the deceased and the family to commit identity theft. Legitimate government agencies like FEMA will not contact you for such a program unless you have initiated contact. You should verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a government representative and contact the official FEMA helpline if you have any doubts.
5. General Advice on Avoiding Scams After a Death:
Be cautious with calls: Only answer calls from people you know or those you called first.
Keep records: If you file an insurance claim, keep all related paperwork and detailed notes of conversations.
Protect personal information: Be careful about the personal details shared in obituaries or on social media, as scammers can use this information for identity theft.
Verify charities: Before donating, check that the charity claiming to raise funds for a deceased individual is legitimate.
In addition to these specific scams, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Funeral Rule protects consumers by:
Requiring itemized price lists: Funeral homes must provide a detailed General Price List (GPL).
Allowing you to choose only what you want: You can select specific goods and services, not forced to buy packages.
Prohibiting certain practices: The Funeral Rule prohibits misrepresenting legal or cemetery requirements, requiring embalming for a fee without permission, requiring a casket for direct cremation, and engaging in other deceptive practices.
To report suspected funeral scams copy/paste these searches into your browser:
Learning Objectives
Advocate for the ethical/legal concerns of the patient and family members making end-of-life decisions
Identify evidence-based practices associated with end of life care
Employ nursing measures to support palliative care during the dying process
Demonstrate respect for the cultural and spiritual beliefs of the patient, caregiver(s), and family members experiencing grief and loss
Outline available personal and community resources
Describe nursing responsibilities associated with postmortem care
Thanatology is the scientific study of death and the losses brought about as a result. It investigates the mechanisms and forensic aspects of death, such as bodily changes that accompany death and the postmortem period, as well as wider psychological and social aspects related to death.
