Identity theft of the person who died ("ghosting")
High risk
Criminals scan obituaries and public records to open credit, file fake tax refunds, or take over accounts in a dead person's name — often before the family even finishes the funeral.
Scams that target the bereaved
This is not paranoia. Obituaries and public records are actively scanned, and the fraud usually starts before the funeral. Five patterns cover almost all of it.
Funeral overcharging and pressure-selling
Medium risk
Grief makes it hard to push back on upsells. Some providers steer you toward expensive packages, imply cheaper options are disrespectful, or claim add-ons are legally required when they are not.
Fake debt collectors chasing the estate
Medium risk
Scammers contact grieving relatives claiming the deceased owed money, pressuring them to pay personally and fast. In general, debts are paid from the estate, not by relatives personally.
Fake obituary, livestream, and condolence-page scams
Medium risk
Fraudsters spin up fake obituary pages, "funeral livestream" links, or memorial fundraisers that harvest payment details or spread malware — often shared in comments within hours of a death.
Romance and "inheritance/insurance" scams targeting survivors
Medium risk
Newly-bereaved people — especially older widows and widowers — are targeted by romance scammers and by fraudsters claiming there is an unclaimed inheritance or insurance payout needing an upfront…