Beware of the fake funeral-for-a-friend phishing scam

NOTE: The below story highlights a scam using tactics criminals are using RIGHT NOW, to better prepare you when the next scam hits.

Trish had been scrolling through social media when she received the heartbreaking news of a former colleague’s passing.

She wanted to find a way to pay her respects. It wasn’t long before she stumbled upon a Facebook group that seemed to be organizing a livestreamed funeral for the deceased.

The page appeared legitimate, featuring heartfelt messages, photos of her colleague, and detailed funeral arrangements.

Trish clicked on the link to join the live stream. Upon entering the group, she was informed that, to access the stream, she would need to pay a small fee.

The website was well-designed, and the request for payment didn’t seem unusual at first, given the growing trend of online events charging access fees.

Without thinking twice, Trish began to enter her credit card information. Only after did she realize that the live stream funeral wasn’t real, and she had fallen for a scam.

Did you spot the red flags?

Trish should have confirmed funeral details through those close to the deceased or through other official channels before searching for information online.

Never provide personal or financial information unless you are certain of a website’s legitimacy.

More she could have done

Check the funeral home’s website. Often times the funeral home or family of the deceased will indicate whether the service is being live streamed and provide legitimate links to access the service for free.

Look for warning signs of fake pages and read website reviews. Some scam websites might appear professional at first, but many have subtle red flags, such as poorly written descriptions, fake reviews, or blurry designs.

Reach Blair IT to keep your network safe and secure

Have staff members at your organization been victimized by phishing scams, opening your work systems to malicious attacks?

Contact the security experts at Blair IT to discuss how to create a network protected against scammers and cyber criminals. Call us at 614-898-9925 or fill out our online form to request a consultation today.