How cybercriminals prey on families during their most vulnerable moments
Losing a loved one is one of lifeβs most painful experiences. However, for online scammers, it has become a profitable opportunity. Across North America, Europe, and many other regions, obituary scams are spreading rapidly. These schemes exploit grief, sympathy, and personal information to steal both money and identities.
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Scammers closely monitor funeral home listings, memorial pages, and online obituaries, often within hours of publication. They copy the details such as the deceased personβs name, funeral date, and family information, and then create false obituary pages on imitation websites or social media memorials.
Once these pages are active, the scammers use several techniques to deceive victims:
π Phishing memorial pages:
Scammers post links that appear to lead to guestbooks, charities, or funeral live streams. These links actually lead to fake websites that collect financial and personal information.
πΈ Fake fundraising efforts:
They impersonate family members or friends, claiming to collect money for funeral costs or memorial charities. The funds go directly to the scammerβs accounts or cryptocurrency wallets.
π¦ Fraudulent flower and gift services:
Some websites pretend to sell sympathy gifts or flowers but simply steal payment information.
π± Social media impersonation:
Scammers create fake social media accounts using the deceased personβs name or photo. These accounts send friend requests or private messages containing scam links or malware.
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In addition to financial fraud, obituary scams often lead to identity theft. Public obituaries commonly include sensitive information such as:
πͺͺ Full names and middle initials
π Birth dates
π Hometowns and family relationships
Criminals can use these details to open fraudulent accounts, file false tax returns, or claim insurance benefits in the deceased personβs name. This type of crime is known as ghosting fraud.
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π Memorial pages with unfamiliar or suspicious web addresses
π¬ Messages from individuals claiming to represent the family or funeral home and requesting money
π΅οΈ Duplicate obituary listings on unknown websites
β οΈ Any requests for personal or banking information related to funeral arrangements
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πͺΆ Limit details in public obituaries: Avoid publishing exact birth dates, addresses, and the full names of relatives.
π Use only official funeral home websites: Share official links directly with others.
π’ Report false obituary pages: Contact the funeral home and report fraudulent listings immediately.
π Verify all donation requests: Confirm directly with the family or funeral director before sending money.
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Cybersecurity professionals report a significant increase in obituary scams since 2022. The use of artificial intelligence and automated content scraping allows criminals to duplicate obituaries within minutes. Some groups operate entire networks of fake memorial websites to attract sympathetic visitors.
Although many funeral homes and obituary websites are adding verification systems, this problem continues to evolve. Awareness and caution remain the strongest defense against these scams.
Grief should never be turned into a financial opportunity for criminals. In the digital age, even mourning can become a target for fraud. By understanding how obituary scams work and by sharing this knowledge with others, we can help protect grieving families from being victimized again.
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