- Never pay to watch a funeral livestream, and check any donation page with the funeral director.
- In the US, relatives are generally not liable for a dead person’s debts, whatever a collector implies.
- Letters saying you’ve inherited from a stranger with your surname are scams.
- UK: report to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 (Police Scotland on 101 in Scotland). US: ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Scammers read death notices and social media. They rely on you being tired, busy and keen to get things right. A simple rule covers most of what follows: if someone contacts you about money, stop, and call back on a number you found yourself.
Scams to watch for
Funeral livestream and donation scams
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute has warned about fake funeral livestream links that ask for payment, fake donation pages, and fraudsters pretending to be family on social media. Its advice: never pay to attend a funeral, and check any donation page with the funeral director.
Fake funeral home calls
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) describes impostors posing as the funeral home, demanding more money or saying “the funeral will be canceled”. Hang up and call the funeral home on a number you know is real. Never pay by wire transfer, crypto or gift card.
Debt collectors chasing family
In the US, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says that generally, no one else has to pay a dead person’s debts. The exceptions are co-signers, joint account holders (not authorised users) and spouses in community-property states. Collectors “cannot say or hint” that you have to pay from your own money, and you can tell them to stop contacting you.
The FTC says collectors may only discuss the debts with the spouse, a parent of a minor, a guardian, a lawyer, the executor, administrator or personal representative, or a confirmed successor in interest. Debts are paid from the estate, if there is money in it.
Fake inheritance letters
A July 2026 FTC warning describes official-looking letters telling people they are heir to an unclaimed life insurance policy from someone who shares their surname. The FTC is clear that such a letter does not come from a lawyer. It comes from a scammer.
In the UK, the government’s unclaimed estates list was taken down in July 2025 after a BBC investigation into probate fraud. It is online again. Be wary of anyone who contacts you out of the blue about an estate.
Identity theft using the dead person’s details
Report Fraud warns that criminals sometimes use the identities of people who have died. The New York Department of State calls this “ghosting”. Its advice:
- Leave the date of birth and maiden name out of obituaries and death notices.
- Report the death to the Social Security Administration (US).
- Check the person’s credit report and send letters by certified mail.
- File a police report if you find fraud.
In the UK, register with the free Deceased Preference Service, which shares registrations with credit agencies and financial institutions, and with The Bereavement Register. In the US, ask the credit bureaus to flag the file as deceased. Our page on closing accounts in order covers both.
Other scams aimed at the bereaved
AARP also lists romance scams aimed at inheritances, and psychic scams. Then there are recovery scams, which target people who have already lost money. The FTC says government agencies and legitimate organisations “will never ask for money to help you get a refund”.
Genuine organisations have published bereavement processes and ask for documents such as the death certificate. A request to pay by wire transfer, crypto or gift card is a warning sign. Our guides to what you need after a death and to email accounts show what genuine requests look like.
Where to report in the UK
- England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040. Report Fraud replaced Action Fraud on 4 December 2025, and the phone number stayed the same. Older leaflets still say Action Fraud.
- Scotland: Police Scotland on 101.
- Your bank: contact it directly, or call 159.
- Phishing emails: forward to [email protected].
- Scam texts: forward to 7726.
- Consumer advice: Citizens Advice consumer helpline 0808 223 1133, Advice Direct Scotland 0808 164 6000, or Consumerline in Northern Ireland on 0300 123 6262.
Where to report in the US
- FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov or 877-382-4357.
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): ic3.gov for online fraud.
- National Elder Fraud Hotline: (833) 372-8311, Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm Eastern time.
- AARP Fraud Watch helpline: 877-908-3360, for advice and support.
If the person who died held crypto, our sister site on crypto inheritance explains what heirs should do.
If you’ve already paid or shared bank details, tell your bank straight away. In the UK you can also call 159. Then report it using the routes above.