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Beware: Funeral scam circulating
Scammers are now scanning obituaries and targeting those who have lost loved ones. The crooks claim to be from a funeral home and demand money. FOX 5 spoke with a local funeral home owner who says this is a new low.
CARROLLTON, Ga. - The Carrollton Police Department is asking residents to keep their head on a swivel. A fake funeral home scam is floating around, targeting families as they prepare to bury their loved ones.
Police say it starts with a call from a number that may look familiar. Some scammers are even skilled enough to "spoof," or masquerade as, the very contact information from the funeral home. You'll think you're taking an important call from a real worker.
The caller will then tell you that you owe them money for services related to a recent funeral, or burial. They request immediate payment over the phone.
Officials say don't fall for it.
While some funeral homes may accept payments over the phone, they should never call you to demand any money. Never give your personal or financial information over the phone without verifying you're speaking to an official.
Over the summer, Cherokee County officials warned their constituents about the same scam, called it "the lowest of the low."
In May, the scam reached Gwinnett County.
If you ever feel unsure of a call you're receiving, hang up and dial the official number you know to belong to that business or individual.