Frauds & Scams

Grief, urgency, and public information can make individuals and families targets for fraud. Learn how to recognize common end-of-life scams, slow down a suspicious request, verify who is contacting you, and report attempted fraud.

Pause, Verify, Protect

Scammers often create urgency: a payment must be made now, a document will be withheld, benefits will stop, or arrangements will be canceled. Before sending money or sharing personal information, stop and verify the request through a phone number or website you found independently.

Stop Before You Pay

If someone unexpectedly demands immediate payment, do not send money or provide account information. Hang up or stop replying. Contact the funeral home, government agency, charity, or other organization directly using a phone number or website you already trust. A demand to pay only by wire transfer, cryptocurrency, payment app, or gift card is a major warning sign.

Common End-of-Life Scams

The details change, but most scams rely on impersonation, pressure, secrecy, or a payment method that is difficult to reverse.

Funeral Home Imposters

A caller claims to work for the funeral home and says more money is required immediately or the arrangements will be canceled. End the call and contact the funeral home through a verified number.

Government Imposters

A caller, email, or message claims to be from Social Security, Medicare, or another agency and asks for money or sensitive information. Go directly to the agency’s official .gov website before responding.

Unexpected Fees

Be cautious if someone unexpectedly demands a fee to release remains, obtain documents, or complete paperwork. Verify the charge directly with the funeral provider or government office and request it in writing.

Prepaid Plan Pressure

Prepaid arrangements are not automatically scams, but high-pressure sales, unclear contracts, missing cancellation terms, and unverified sellers are warning signs. Check the provider’s license and understand how the money is protected.

Charity or Funding Scams

Memorial appeals may use a real person’s name or story without permission. Confirm the organizer, research the charity, and donate through a verified website rather than an unexpected message or link.

Identity Theft After Death

Obituaries, memorial posts, and public records may reveal information scammers can misuse. Share only what is necessary, secure important accounts, and be cautious with anyone requesting personal or financial details.

Protect Yourself & Your Family

A few deliberate steps can interrupt most scams before money or information is lost.

Slow down. Pressure to act immediately is a warning sign.
Verify independently. Use a phone number, statement, contract, or official website you already trust.
Ask for the request in writing. Review the name of the company, the reason for the charge, and an itemized amount.
Protect personal information. Do not provide Social Security, banking, insurance, or account details to an unexpected caller or message.
Use a traceable payment method. Credit cards generally provide more dispute protection than gift cards, cryptocurrency, wires, or payment apps.
Keep records. Save contracts, receipts, emails, text messages, phone numbers, and screenshots.
Ask another person. When possible, have a trusted relative, friend, or advocate review an unfamiliar request before you act.

Know Your Funeral Purchasing Rights

The Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule gives consumers important protections when buying funeral goods and services. When you visit a funeral home and discuss arrangements, you have the right to receive a General Price List to keep.

You may choose only the goods and services you want, with limited exceptions for a basic services fee and items required by law. Funeral providers also must give price information by telephone when asked.

Before You Agree to Pay

Ask for an itemized written statement showing every selected good and service. Compare it with the provider’s General Price List, question unfamiliar charges, and do not rely on a verbal explanation alone.

Review Funeral Costs and Consumer Rights

Report & Recover

Act quickly if you sent money, shared account information, or received a suspicious demand.

Contact the bank, card issuer, payment app, wire service, or gift-card company immediately. Say the transaction was fraudulent and ask whether it can be stopped or reversed.
Change passwords and secure affected accounts if you shared login or personal information.
Save the message, caller information, receipts, and screenshots.
Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Report Social Security imposters through the Social Security Administration’s scam-reporting page.
Contact local law enforcement when money was stolen, threats were made, or personal safety is involved.

Learn How Scams Work

AARP’s The Perfect Scam podcast examines real fraud cases and explains the tactics scammers use. Listening to other people’s experiences can make pressure tactics and impersonation easier to recognize.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to questions often associated with this topic.

What if the caller ID shows the real funeral home or agency?

Caller ID can be altered. End the call and contact the organization using a phone number from a contract, statement, official website, or other trusted source.

What should I do if I already paid a scammer?

Contact the company you used to send the money immediately. Tell them it was fraud and ask whether the payment can be stopped or reversed. Then secure affected accounts, save your records, and report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

How can I check whether a charity is legitimate?

Search the organization’s official name and review its tax-exempt status through the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Research the charity independently and donate through its verified website rather than an unexpected link.

Are all prepaid funeral plans scams?

No. A legitimate prepaid plan can be useful, but protections and cancellation rules vary. Read the complete contract, verify the seller’s license, understand whether the plan can be transferred or canceled, and learn how the funds are protected.

Where should I report a Social Security imposter?

Use the Social Security Administration’s official scam-reporting resources. Social Security will not demand payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or payment app.

Report the Scam - Even if You Did Not Lose Money

Your report can help investigators identify patterns, warn others, and build cases against scammers.

Report Fraud