Crooks Target the Mourning

Posted on Thursday, October 4, 2007

An outbreak of crooks that are trying to reach into bank accounts by using the Web sites of unsuspecting funeral homes are being tracked by the Better Business Bureau. Many of the undertakers' sites allow people to log on and leave their condolences for families. Some of those leaving their thoughts and prayers on the Web sites have received letters later on saying that the deceased had left them a large sum of money. The e-mails also said to contact the Bank of Nigeria within seven days to arrange for money to be transferred to their bank account, according to some funeral home officials. The scam has been brought to the attention of a number of funeral homes that are now removing personal contact information for those posting condolences.