We are aware of funeral scams where fake profiles on Facebook share live streaming links that require upfront payment. It is saddening and upsetting that scammers are targeting bereaved people at a vulnerable time.
Advice to help you protect your families against fraudulent activity
Our recommendation is to keep funeral-specific information on the person’s MuchLoved page and to direct family and friends to your website, or if you are not displaying funeral notices; the MuchLoved page.
By following the steps below, we can work together to protect families and friends of loved ones:
Direct families to your website, where they can get to the tribute page on MuchLoved. Sharing the MuchLoved tribute page directly with friends and family, rather than posting the page publicly on Facebook or social media platforms will help ensure that people only follow verified links. Families also have the option to keep their tribute page private and share it only with named individuals.
Follow MuchLoved links only: Ensure that any live streaming links are accessed through the MuchLoved tribute page. We monitor pages that are created on our platform, and act quickly should we notice unusual activity or content.
Report suspicious activity: If you come across a Facebook profile that you believe is impersonating someone or posting scam links, please report it immediately to Facebook or you can also ask the family to report the profile to Facebook.
It’s a simple process to report an impersonator’s profile – find the face Facebook profile, click on the three dots, and select ‘report profile.’
At MuchLoved we monitor, report and where necessary, remove inappropriate content on our own platform.
Using social media safely
By following the steps above, families can be sure that they are sharing funeral details safely. You could also refer them to this advice from the National Cyber Security Centre: How to use social media safely, including guidance from each of the major social media platforms.
If you have questions Our Support team will be happy to help with any questions you may have. You can contact us by email at support@muchloved.com or telephone 01494 722818.
