ATTENTION! Fraud Alert!

We recently became aware of what is apparently a nationwide scam targeting consumers of cremation, funeral and cemetery services. We have also been advised by a client family that they too were contacted and multiple times! Fortunately, they did NOT provide any information and called us immediately. First awareness came from a funeral director friend in West Virginia: "This scam happened to a family at our funeral home yesterday. We have the local authorities and the FBI involved."

As cremation, funeral and cemetery service providers, we regret the need to provide this warning.

We recently became aware of what is apparently a nationwide scam targeting consumers of cremation, funeral and cemetery services. We have also been advised by a client family that they too were contacted and multiple times! Fortunately, they did NOT provide any information and called us immediately.

First awareness came from a funeral director friend in West Virginia: "This scam happened to a family at our funeral home yesterday. We have the local authorities and the FBI involved."

Second awareness came from a funeral director friend in California: "We just had this discussion yesterday with location managers. One family got scammed even before they came to the funeral home to finalize funeral arrangements."

How can this be happening? Apparently, scammers are trolling obituaries in newspapers, on newspaper websites and on websites of funeral homes, crematories and cemeteries.

When the trollers find an obituary with family members who they feel would be vulnerable, they Google personal information seeking the phone number, addresses, etc. of those grieving next-of-kin.

Then the troller goes to a funeral home, crematory or cemetery website to find a name of a staff member.

Fraudulently identifying themselves as a staff member, the troller then calls a grieving family member demanding credit card information in order to proceed with services to be rendered.

Consumers need to be aware of this scam. If you receive a call from an individual claiming to be a funeral home employee who is attempting to gather financial and/or personal information, please consider the following:

·      Refuse payment and NEVER disclose credit card numbers, banking information, social security numbers or a date of birth.

·      Tell the caller you will follow-up directly with the funeral home and end the call.

·      Feel free to end the call without explanation if it appears suspicious or to be a scam.

If possible, take down the caller's information (including name, title, phone number, and email address), and report this to police and to your funeral director.

Respectfully,

Daniel P. Dwyer, President | Michigan Memorial Funeral Home, Inc.

Kelly K. Dwyer, President   | Michigan Memorial Park, Inc.