Crooks Using Obituaries to Scam Families

Authorities are warning Southern Californians of an obituary scam targeting families who have recently lost a loved one.

Scammers are using obituary announcements to identify grieving family members, then contact them to demand money for what they claim is an unpaid debt, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department says.

The crooks are also showing up to doorsteps posing as delivery carriers, telling homeowners their late husband or wife made the purchase before he or she died, and the item needs to be paid for immediately.

"Coping with a death is difficult enough and made even worse when criminals try to exploit a family member's grief," the sheriff's department said in a news release.

Officials offer the following tips to avoid being scammed:

  • Put only necessary details in the obituary
  • Hang up on unsolicited calls
  • Do not accept any unknown items from messengers
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