Help & Advice

Keeping you safe: Funeral financial crime and scams

Very sadly, criminals may try and target vulnerable people, including bereaved people and those wanting to buy a funeral plan.

At Funeral Partners, we want to protect you from potential financial crime risks.

On this page, you can find some practical examples and guidance in respect of financial crime risks and scams that have been reported in the news. Being aware of common scams can help you to protect yourself against them.


Impersonation scams

We will not change our bank details

  • Only use the bank details we have provided to you on the paperwork we have given to you
  • We will never change these details
  • If you are making a payment over the phone, contact us using the telephone number we have given you on our paperwork, or search the internet for our telephone number (so you know you have the correct number)
  • If you are unsure about a payment you need to make, or you receive a request which you think may be fake, do not proceed
  • Instead, contact us on a number you know is genuine, or visit us in person at the funeral home

Social media scams

There is no cost to watch live streaming

  • Criminals may create fake social media profiles or tribute/fundraising pages for the person who has died
  • They then target friends and family by asking for payment card details from you, or mourners, in order to gain access to the live stream of the funeral service
  • Any of these payment requests will be a scam
  • Mourners do not need to pay to watch a funeral on live stream once the family have organised this
  • Be aware of this, and inform those mourners who may wish to watch live streaming that there is no charge to access
  • Any genuine fundraising page that has been requested by the family, as part of the arrangement, will be shared by the family and will usually be available via the Funeral Director’s website or official well-known online service providers such as MuchLovedFuneral Notices, regional newspapers online, Just Giving and Funeral Guide. Funeral Partners primarily work with MuchLoved as the funeral notices and online donation service.

Criminals using our business

We may need you to prove your identity

  • We are required to make sure our funeral homes are not used by criminals for financial gain, such as for money laundering
  • To help keep you and our funeral homes safe, you may need to provide us with documents, for example, to confirm your identity (such as a passport or driving licence)
  • These checks are there to protect us all, and your co-operation to help us fight financial crime is very much appreciated
  • If you think a request for documents isn’t genuine, do not proceed. Instead, contact us on a number you trust, for example, from the business card we have provided, by searching the internet for our contact details, or visit us in person at the funeral home.

Resources to combat fraud

Knowing about common scams is an important step in protecting yourself against financial crime. According to the National Crime Agency, fraud is the most commonly experienced crime in the UK – if you or anyone you know has been affected, you can report your concerns to the National Cyber Security Centre or ActionFraud.

We are here to help you

Please speak to us if you require more information.

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