Attorney General Jay Jones has issued a warning to Virginians about scams that target families grieving the loss of loved ones. The alert comes during National Consumer Protection Week and focuses on fraudulent individuals posing as funeral home staff who attempt to solicit immediate or extra payments.
“It’s hard to imagine anything worse than preying on a person who has just lost a beloved family member or loved one,” said Attorney General Jones. “Unfortunately, there are scam artists actively posing as funeral home staff and illegally demanding immediate or additional payments from grieving family members by claiming that the funeral will be canceled or other services will not be provided unless these payments are made immediately. I urge Virginians to learn more about these scams and their rights if they become victims of these scams.”
Scammers often obtain information from published obituaries, including details about the deceased, their relatives, and associated funeral homes. They then contact family members directly, pretending to represent the funeral home in order to pressure them for payment.
Attorney General Jones’ office provided several recommendations for avoiding such scams:
– Do not give in to pressure for immediate action; legitimate businesses allow time for decisions.
– Contact the funeral home using verified contact information rather than numbers provided by unsolicited calls or messages.
– Be cautious if asked to pay via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or similar methods that make recovery difficult.
Virginians with questions or complaints related to consumer issues can reach out to Attorney General Jones’ Consumer Protection Section by phone at (800)552-9963 or email at consumer@oag.state.va.us. Online complaint and contact forms are also available.
The Office of the Attorney General of Virginia offers various consumer protection resources addressing identity theft and fraud reporting needs, along with supporting civil rights enforcement and victim assistance programs. Additional responsibilities include providing legal counsel and representation to state agencies while promoting public safety and defending constitutional rights throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia (official website). The office is also involved in efforts against human trafficking and domestic violence through legal advocacy (official website).
