Medium riskText Message Scams

Funeral Notice Text Scam

This scam texts a fake funeral or memorial notice for a friend or relative, urging you to click a link to view details, a live-stream, or donate, leading to a phishing page or a fake donation collector.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Medium risk
Scam type
Emotional lure phishing (smishing)
Main red flag
An unexpected funeral or memorial notice with a link to view details or donate.
What to do first
Do not click. Verify with the family or funeral home directly.

What this scam usually looks like

This scam texts a fake funeral or memorial notice for a friend or relative, urging you to click a link to view details, a live-stream, or donate, leading to a phishing page or a fake donation collector.

Example message pattern

Example pattern — not a real report
Example pattern: 'Sad news about your friend. View funeral details and live-stream here: [suspicious link]'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

Red flags to watch for

  • An unexpected funeral or memorial notice by text
  • A link to view details, a live-stream, or donate
  • Vague details with no names you can confirm
  • Pressure to click out of concern
  • A donation request on a linked page

What to do

  • Verify with the family or funeral home directly
  • Do not click links in unexpected notices
  • Donate only through verified, official channels
  • Report and delete the message

If you already clicked or replied

  • Do not enter login or card details on the page
  • If you donated, contact your bank and watch your statement
  • Change any password you entered
  • Report the message

What not to do

  • Do not click links in unexpected funeral notices
  • Do not donate through a linked page
  • Do not let grief or concern override verification

Similar scams

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Live Stream Donation Scam

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Medium risk Text Message

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Frequently asked questions

Why do scammers use funeral notices?
Grief and concern make people click quickly. The links lead to phishing pages or fake donation collectors that exploit your emotions.
How do I verify a funeral notice?
Contact the family or funeral home directly through known channels, and donate only through verified, official pages.
I clicked and entered details. What now?
Change any password you entered, contact your bank if you shared card details, and report the message.
Is a live-stream link safe?
Only if it comes from the family or funeral home through verified channels. Treat unexpected live-stream links in texts as suspicious.

Last reviewed: June 2026

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.