During National Consumer Protection Week,
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is warning Michigan residents of the
latest frontier for scammers: death. As a recent article on the American
Association of Retired Persons (AARP) website cautions, posting online death
notices heavy with personal information about the deceased could put that
person, as well as their survivors, on the radar of fraudsters and
opportunists.
In an obituary scam, the victim is targeted by scammers because they are either deceased or emotionally vulnerable from the grief of losing a loved one. In either case, the individuals are unlikely to be monitoring their accounts for unauthorized activity.
The details about a lost loved one that family and friends share online can be easily gathered by criminals to purchase even more personal data – like the deceased person’s address and social security number – from the dark web. Armed with that information, criminals can open bank accounts, obtain loans, secure health insurance, or file false tax returns in the deceased person’s name.
“It is almost beyond belief that there are people who are so unethical that they would exploit another’s loss for profit,” Nessel said. “Because these individuals do exist, we need to be mindful that the impulse to share special traits about a deceased loved one online can open up avenues for deception and scams. My office is prepared to prosecute fraudsters and offer helpful resources to their victims.”
Additionally, a grieving person can be more susceptible to manipulation from scammers masquerading as representatives of government agencies, collection agencies, or insurance companies. Scammers may also pose as long-lost friends, relatives, or romantic partners who contact the deceased’s survivors out of the blue to reminisce. But this is yet another tactic to acquire personal information to use for nefarious purposes. Some criminals might call the funeral home to stealthily obtain financial information about the deceased person or their family.
As the AARP article advises, to avoid a loved one becoming the subject of a scam, or becoming a victim of an obituary scam yourself, survivors should be on the lookout for red flags like:
• Bills or credit card activity for expenses accrued after your loved one’s death.
• Calls from government agency imposters, debt collectors, or insurance brokers about outstanding taxes, unpaid bills, or unfinished business supposedly left
by the deceased.
• Callers who pressure you to pay immediately by wire transfer, gift card, or reloadable cash card.
Family members may be contacted by the deceased person’s legitimate creditors, subject to limitations on who and for what purpose. Loved ones should look to the Federal Trade Commission’s article, Debts and Deceased Relatives, for advice on responding to these queries (https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/debts-and-deceased-relatives).
Another twist on the obituary scam has “obituary pirates” scouring newspapers and websites for details about the deaths of strangers, fabricating additional details, and posting the fake obituaries as clickbait on blogs or video sites to generate views and ad revenue. In some cases, the pirates simply record themselves reading a summary of the obituary and then upload it to their chosen social media platform. Each click earns income for the poster. If the online obituary site has a donation link, those funds may not reach their intended destination but could end up in the hands of a fraudster.
Obituary pirates prey on the
vulnerability of grieving families, exploiting personal information for their
own gain. Though generally not illegal, obituary piracy can lead to the frauds
and scams mentioned above. Michigan residents are advised to share loved ones’
obituaries as soon as possible to avoid having a fake one confused with the
real thing. Families are also urged to remain wary of suspicious online
activities related to a loved one’s passing.
By remaining vigilant and verifying the
legitimacy of online obituaries and donation requests, individuals can protect
themselves and their families from falling victim to these scams.
Michigan residents whose deceased loved
one has been the target of obituary pirates or fraud can contact the Department
of Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team:
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form at
https://secure.ag.state.mi.us/complaints/consumer.aspx.
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