MONROE COUNTY, Ga. — During one of the hardest times in your life, it's difficult to think of someone plotting to take advantage of you, but Sheriff Brad Freeman says that's happening in Monroe County right now.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office wants to let people know about a scam targeting grieving families. Scammers are posing as funeral home employees and demanding payments for funeral costs. They tell people if they don't pay, the funeral will be canceled.
“Going through the obituary, finding a family member that's lost a loved one and calling them,” Freeman said.
The victim in this most recent case was scammed out of thousands of dollars.
Sheriff Freeman says after sending the money, the victim realized they already paid the funeral home in full prior to the phone call.
“The most vulnerable point in their life is when they've lost a loved one and tell them that the funeral arrangements have been stopped because they owe them money,” Freeman said.
Milton Heard is the director of the Monroe County Memorial Service Funeral Home.
“They had already paid for the service and yet they still fell for the scam,” Heard said.
Scammers impersonated Heard calling up a person who already paid for the funeral and took more money. Heard says bereft families are easy targets.
“They're taking advantage of someone that has been up for several nights in a row. They are grieving and they are not on their best game,” Heard said.
Sheriff Freeman says to try and contact the funeral home director you're working with before making any payments over the phone. You should report the call to the federal trade commission and contact the sheriff's office if you get a similar call.