Medium riskText Message

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.

How this scam works

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.

Text-message scams, known as "smishing", reach you directly on your phone where a link is only a tap away and messages feel personal and urgent. They impersonate trusted senders, banks, couriers, government, or even people you know, and depend on you acting before you pause to verify.

In short, the giveaway is usually simple: An unexpected funeral or memorial notice with a link to view details or donate. Do not click. Verify with the family or funeral home directly.

Scammers rotate tactics constantly, the same operation may also run the Live Stream Donation Scam and the Wrong Number Text Scam. See the full Text Message Scams guides hub, or test a suspicious message with the scam checker.

How to spot this scam

  • 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 the message looks like

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.

What gives it away: An unexpected funeral or memorial notice with a link to view details or donate.

The scale of it

$330M
reported lost to text-message scams in the US in 2022, more than double the year before
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
#1
fake bank fraud alerts were the most-reported text scam type in 2022
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

How to protect yourself

  • 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

Already responded? Do this now

  • 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

Mistakes to avoid

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

Related scams to know

Medium risk Social Media

Live Stream Donation Scam

This scam runs fake or hijacked live streams, often impersonating a celebrity, brand, or charity, urging viewers to 'donate' crypto or gift cards with promises of doubled returns or prizes that never come.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Text Message

Wrong Number Text Scam

This scam starts with a friendly 'wrong number' text, builds a casual conversation over time, and eventually steers you toward a fake investment.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Text Message

Fake Toll Road Text Scam

This scam texts you about a small unpaid toll and threatens late fees, linking to a fake page that collects your card and personal details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Common 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 · Written & reviewed by the

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.