Warning: Phone Scam Targeting Funeral Home Clients Comes to NJ

Warning: Phone Scam Targeting Funeral Home Clients Comes to NJ

A new scheme in which scammers target consumers engaging funeral homes to arrange for services for family members has reached New Jersey.

Those running the scam call consumers and claim they are from the funeral home and need to verify financial information such as deposits, insurance policies or public assistance details. The scammers are even able to mask the number they are calling from and make it appear as if the funeral home itself is calling, a practice known as “spoofing.”

Originally seen in California, the scam was recently reported to the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association by a member funeral home. A consumer engaging the funeral home reported that they had received a call requesting further information about insurance. The funeral home’s phone number was spoofed by the caller. The consumer, however, sensed the call was not legitimate and reported it to the funeral home.

The California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau warned funeral homes in the state to beware of the scam and warn their clients that such calls were seeking personal information for unlawful purposes.

Funeral directors may want to warn their clients of the possibility of such scam calls and urge them to contact the funeral home if anyone calls claiming they represent the home.

Those who believe they have been contacted by a scammer can report the call through the Federal Trade Commission’s website, www.FTCComplaintAssistant.gov. Complaints may also be filed by contacting the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs by email at AskConsumerAffairs@lps@state.nj.us.

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