Scam warning
Funeral and Obituary Scams
Scammers read obituaries and target grieving families. They post fake funeral livestream links that ask for card details, call claiming the person who died owed them money, or offer fake services.
Also called: Obituary scam, Funeral livestream scam, Estate debt scam
The one thing to remember
Family members usually don't have to pay a loved one's debts from their own money. Ask the estate's lawyer before paying anything.
How it happens
- An obituary is posted with family names and the funeral date.
- Fake Facebook posts share a “livestream” of the funeral that asks for a card number to watch.
- Someone calls saying the person who died owed them money, and you must pay now.
- Some criminals even target the family's empty home during the funeral.
Warning signs
- A funeral livestream that asks for payment or card details.
- A caller demanding you pay a loved one's debt.
- Pressure while you're grieving.
What to do
- Get livestream links only from the funeral home or close family.
- Ask for any debt in writing, and pass it to the estate's lawyer or executor.
- Learn more at consumerfinance.gov about debts after a death.
- Ask a neighbor or friend to watch the house during the funeral.
Last checked: October 31, 2026