B.C. watchdog warns of obituary scam

Consumer Protection BC is warning the public about a scam involving pirated obituaries.

The not-for-profit NGO, which acts as the regulator for the funeral, cemetery, and crematorium industry in B.C., says it’s received reports of websites copying information from real obituaries, forging new ones, and soliciting donations or selling memorial gifts.

“Instead of supporting someone you care for, the bad actors make off with the money,” Consumer Protection BC said a release Monday.

Louise Hartland, director of public relations for Consumer Protection BC, says she’s hearing about the scam from other regulators all over the country.

“We’re hearing more — an increase in people that are reaching out to the funeral industry saying, ‘Hey, somebody tried to get some money from me for this,” said Hartland.

She says double-checking with the apparent company or news provider is the right thing to do.

“They can call the funeral service provider listed on the obituary to verify that they’re soliciting donations on behalf of that family,” she advised. “If it’s appropriate, you can also try and talk to somebody close to the family, confirm that those are their wishes. And also search for the name of the funeral home or crematorium on our website, consumerprotectionbc.ca, to ensure that the company is licensed to operate here in B.C.”

Hartland says the scam makes victims of people trying to do a good deed and insults the surviving family whose loved one’s memory has been pirated.

“If you do think that you are the victim of one of these scams, or if somebody that you love may have given money to somebody, and it didn’t reach whom it was supposed to, please contact law enforcement. They deal with fraud in these cases, as well as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.”