Crime & Safety
Rash Of Funeral Home Scam Calls Reported In Bradenton: Police
Authorities warn the public of a spike in funeral home scam calls in 24 hours, the Bradenton Police Department said.
BRADENTON, FL — Authorities warn the public of a spike in funeral home scam calls, according to a Bradenton Police Department news release.
Several scam calls were reported within 24 hours from Sunday into Monday.
Imposters pretend to be from the funeral home selected by grieving family members and tell the victims that unless they pay more money immediately, the funeral will be canceled, police said.
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The scammers are using spoofing technology to change the caller ID to appear as though the call originates from the funeral hired by the family of the deceased. Often, scammers use information that they read in obituaries to target victims.
Police offer the following tips to those who receive one of these calls:- Hang up.
- Resist the pressure to act immediately.
- Contact the funeral home directly using a phone number you know is verified, not the one from the scammer’s phone call, text message, or email.
- Do not provide any form of payment, including PayPal or other wire transfer service, cryptocurrency or prepaid gifts card.
Those who believe they have been a victim of one of these scams, contact the funeral home immediately and report the crime to the Bradenton Police Department at 941-932-9300.
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