📋 Grieving Loved Ones Targeted in Obituary Scams (AARP ARTICLE)

[iLuvNature]

FROM THE ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE!!!

Obituary Scams.

By AARP. Published September 23, 2020. Updated September 08, 2023.

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 scams, also known as bereavement scams, typically start with information gleaned from death notices in newspapers or posted online. Criminals 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 identity theft.

https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2020/obituary.html

[nctarheel]

---

@iLuvNature wrote:

Published September 23, 2020. ▶️  Updated September 08, 2023. ◀️

*** I just read this and thought I would share. As usual, comments are welcome! ***

https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2020/obituary.html

---

Well, Hey @iLuvNature,

Being a member of AARP, I had already read this article that you had highlighted but it brought to mind additional thoughts regarding the use of obituaries.

As a young fellow, I held several different sales jobs before I figured out sales wasn't for me.

I remember that several of those sales jobs used OBITUARIES as a source for leads. I remember it was so uncomfortable contacting these people in their time of grief, trying to sell them something because, due to circumstances, their ability to refuse was at an ebb.

Probably why I got out of sales.

These weren't scam jobs though; they were legitimate positions.

[iLuvNature]

Thanks for stopping by to comment @nctarheel and @Cadee2719 .

[Cadee2719]

This is so true.  Shortly after my husband died I began to get threatening phone calls stating that my husband owed money to all of these people.  I knew that was not true because my husband NEVER left the house without me and I handled all the finances.  With his stroke he was no longer able to read or write so I knew he was not ordering things on line or over the phone.  It became so bad that I now ONLY answer phone calls connected to names that I know.  I feel if it is important for other callers to speak to me, they can leave their name and number and I will return their call.  They NEVER leave this information.  I then began receiving phone calls from grandchildren saying they needed money because they were in trouble.  It was actually sad at times when young girls would call and call me "grandma".  I asked them why they were so desperate to do this; as I have NO granddaughters, even though I would love to have had one.   My neighbor has been scammed and lost money to these calls.  I also get a lot of scams on my computer and I simply block and erase them.  I no longer trust people as I once did.  The scammers seem to come out of the woodwork once there is a death in the family.