Protecting Your Family From Scams After a Bereavement
How to protect grieving family members from scams that target people after the death of a loved one.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
The period following a bereavement is one of the most difficult times a family faces — and scammers know it. Probate fraud, fake funeral cost requests, grief-targeting romance scammers, and 'inheritance' advance-fee frauds all exploit people when they are at their most vulnerable. This is not about being naive; grief changes how we process information and make decisions, and that is something criminals deliberately exploit. Gentle, practical support from family and friends makes a significant difference.
Scams that target bereaved people
Several scam types are specifically timed or targeted to hit people in mourning.
- Probate and estate fraud — fake solicitors or advisers offering to handle the estate
- Advance-fee 'inheritance' scams claiming the deceased left unclaimed funds overseas
- Romance scams targeting recently widowed people, especially online
- Fake funeral cost or charity donation requests
- Data-broker exploits — death notices are public and scammers mine them for targets
Immediate practical steps
In the weeks after a death, a few quick actions reduce exposure.
- Register the death with the Tell Us Once service (UK) to notify multiple agencies
- Be cautious about posting full obituary details publicly — scammers read them
- Forward the deceased's post to a trusted family member to intercept scam mail
- Contact the deceased's bank to close or memorialise accounts promptly
Supporting the grieving person
Grief affects decision-making and makes people more susceptible to offers of comfort and connection. The most powerful protection is kind, regular contact.
- Check in frequently — isolation is what romance scammers rely on
- Gently mention that bereavement is a time scammers target
- Offer to look over any unexpected financial approaches together
- Use the non-shaming approach: 'these are everywhere, let's check together'
Conversation script
“I just want you to know that there are people who specifically target families going through a loss — not because we're easy to fool, but because grief is hard.”
“If you get any contact about the estate or about money from someone you didn't expect, let's look at it together before doing anything.”
“And if you find yourself talking to someone online who's being really kind and supportive — that's lovely, but let's just mention it to each other, okay?”
Frequently asked questions
We received a letter claiming our relative left overseas funds — is it real?
This is almost certainly an advance-fee scam. Legitimate inheritance claims come through solicitors you already know, not cold approaches by letter or email. Do not pay any 'release fee' and do not share personal documents.
How do I help a recently widowed parent without being controlling?
Frame it as general family awareness — 'these things are going around and I just want us to be careful.' Offer to review any unexpected financial contact together rather than asking to see everything. Regular, warm check-ins are more effective than monitoring.
What is Tell Us Once?
Tell Us Once is a UK government service that lets you report a death to multiple government departments at once, reducing the volume of official correspondence and the risk of identity fraud using the deceased's details.