Grieving Loved Ones Targeted in Obituary Scams Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply. Close

Obituary Scams

When a spouse, parent, sibling or close friend dies, it’s natural to want to tell that individual’s story — to share in obituaries what made the cherished person special and to swap memories on social media. But as you celebrate a loved one’s life and mourn his or her death, take care with what you share, because scammers are paying attention, too. Obituary swindles, also known as bereavement scams, typically start with information gleaned from death notices in newspapers or posted online. Fraudsters harvest facts commonly included in obits — such as the deceased’s birth date, where the person lived and worked, and family members’ names — to start building a profile for . Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. With just a few key details, cybercrooks can locate and purchase a dead person’s home address, and other personal data on the . They use that information to access or create financial accounts, take out loans, or (and claim bogus refunds) under the deceased’s name — a form of ID theft dubbed ghosting.
Or they’ll weave what they’ve learned about a recent death into targeting a surviving spouse or other family member. Con artists posing as government officials, or insurance agents try to pry loose more personal data about the deceased, or solicit payment for a supposedly unpaid bill, unclaimed benefit or lapsed policy. The pandemic has brought a new strain of this scam: Crooks are pretending to represent the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) program that helps families for victims of the virus, claiming they need personal information to "register" you for the aid. Some bereavement cons are more involved, and they can get personal. Obit-scouring swindlers pretend to be long-lost friends or relatives of the deceased, contacting surviving spouses out of the blue to commiserate and reminisce. These shows of simulated compassion can evolve into or attempts to defraud beneficiaries out of inheritance money. or spiritual advisers, draining money from grieving people by promising to use supernatural means to ease their loss.

Warning Signs

You get a call from an alleged government official, debt collector or insurance broker about outstanding taxes, unpaid bills or unfinished business supposedly left by a recently deceased loved one.The caller pressures you to pay immediately and asks for payment by wire transfer, or reloadable cash card — all bright-red flags for scams.An unsolicted call, text or email promises federal help paying for the funeral of someone who died of COVID-19. FEMA will not approach you about funeral assistance unless you have already contacted the agency about the program.You receive bills or spot credit card activity for expenses accrued after your loved one’s death. Flowers & Gifts 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items See more Flowers & Gifts offers >

How to protect yourself from this scam

Do as soon as possible by calling 800-772-1213.Do send a copy of the death certificate to the IRS so that officials can flag the deceased’s tax account.Do notify banks and other financial institutions that the late loved one used. If you close accounts, ask that they be listed as “Closed: Account holder is deceased.”Do (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) so that they can place a death notice in the deceased’s credit file. This should prevent fraudulent applications for credit from being approved. Do right after death and a few months later, to check for fraudulent activity.Do be wary of “long lost” relatives or friends of the deceased who contact you (especially on social media) and raise financial issues or attempt to forge a relationship. Ask family and old friends if they know or recall the person. Don’t put too much personal information in an obituary. Leave out details that could be used for identity theft, such as the deceased’s date and place of birth, middle name, maiden name and mother’s maiden name.Don’t include the deceased’s home address. If the obituary also notes the date and time of the funeral, burglars can break into the presumably empty house during the service.Don’t make a payment or provide personal information about yourself or a deceased loved one to someone who contacts you out of the blue.Don’t let a scare you into paying financial obligations for a late spouse, parent or sibling. Generally, the estate is liable for any debts, not the survivors. There are some exceptions for cosigned loans and jointly held financial accounts and under community-property rules in some states; the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has . Scam Tracking Map No matter where you live, fraud is never far away. Report a scam or search for existing scams near you. or at 877-382-4357.Call the FEMA Helpline (800-621-3362) or the National Center for Fraud Hotline (866-720-5721) if you get a suspicious message about federal aid to pay for a funeral.If the fraud was perpetrated online, also report it to the FBI’s . MORE FROM AARP Scam Tracking Map No matter where you live, fraud is never far away. Report a scam or search for existing scams near you. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS