When a best friend from high school lost her parents at different times a few years ago, I wasn’t able to fly across country to attend the funerals. Instead I asked if the funeral home had virtual streaming and she sent me the link so I could attend.
Streaming funeral services has become a common activity during and after the pandemic. Unfortunately, scammers have been taking advantage of the grieving by using fake funeral live streams and donation pages.
These scams typically begin with fraudsters scanning public funeral notices and social media posts. They then create fake Facebook profiles pretending to be relatives or close friends of the deceased. Using these accounts, they post or share links claiming to provide access to a live-streamed funeral service or a donation page “to help the family.”
Victims who click the links are asked to enter card details or make a small payment to “view the service.” In some cases, the scammers request charitable donations. Once the payment is made, nothing happens and the financial information is stolen.
What to Watch For:
- Links to funeral live streams or memorial pages that request payment or donations
- Messages or posts from unfamiliar or newly created social media profiles
- Fundraising pages that do not clearly identify the family or funeral home
- Urgent requests for payment to “secure access” to a virtual service
- Suspicious friend requests from people claiming to be connected to the deceased
Reputable funeral directors do not charge for live streaming services. If you want to watch a funeral service or make a donation, always verify the link directly with the funeral director or the family. Never enter credit card details on a site you don’t fully trust.