LOS ANGELES DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
Coping with death is difficult enough and made even worse when criminals try to exploit a family member’s grief, LA prosecutors stated.
In the Obituary Scam, thieves scan death notices in local news outlets and call the deceased’s relatives, demanding money to pay off a purported unpaid debt.
Crooks also target widows and widowers by posing as messengers and delivering items to their doorstep, claiming their late husband or wife made the purchase before he or she died. They then demand immediate payment.
TIPS:
- Put only necessary details in the obituary.
- Hang up on unsolicited calls.
- Do not accept any unknown items from messengers.
For more information on scams that target seniors, visit the Elder Abuse and Financial Fraud website pages or watch this video.
For a printable version of this fraud alert, click here.
Follow @LADAOffice on Twitter and Instagram for up-to-date news and use #FraudFriday.