An NFDA member in Kansas recently encountered one of the most sophisticated scams we’ve heard of in quite some time.

A scammer posing as the son of a decedent contacted the funeral home to arrange a service and requested that the firm wire payment (nearly $3,000) to a band they wanted to perform at the service.

The funeral director, who has nearly 30 years of experience, described the scam as one of the most convincing they’ve seen. The fraudster provided a service folder featuring a photo and obituary and communicated through well-written emails. They even submitted a realistic-looking invoice from the band, complete with a working website.

Initially, the caller’s request seemed legitimate. The funeral home processed a credit card payment from the “family” and, after speaking with the band’s so-called manager, obtained bank details to initiate the wire transfer.

Fortunately, the bank declined the transaction without further information and documentation. At that point, the funeral director notified the caller that the funeral home would refund the money intended for the band and that the family would need to handle payment arrangements directly.

This incident serves as a powerful reminder: scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and targeted in their efforts. Stay vigilant, trust your instincts and don’t hesitate to verify unusual requests, especially those involving financial transactions on behalf of third parties.