How we ensure that MuchLoved tribute pages remain secure
29 April 2024
At MuchLoved we work closely with funeral directors and charities to respect families' wishes. This includes ensuring that our platform and tribute pages are as secure as possible.
In this article we explain the security and privacy measures that we have in place at MuchLoved and offer some suggestions to help people to stay safe online.
Beware of funeral scams
It’s been saddening to read in the news of online scams targeting bereaved families and funeral mourners. Reports have emerged of fraudsters cloning funeral notices that were posted on social media to create bogus pages, then enticing people to contribute to funeral costs or pay to watch a funeral online via a live link. These upsetting scams happen at a time when people are already vulnerable, making them all the more sinister.
There are occasions when families have no option but to ask for help with covering the cost of the funeral, and many request donations to a chosen charity in lieu of flowers. In both cases, it’s important that families feel confident in asking others to contribute via an online platform.
How MuchLoved helps your families to stay safe online
By using MuchLoved, a secure and reputable service, you’ll be providing your families with a safe place to remember their loved one. Your families can be reassured by having a tribute page that is subject to the highest standards of privacy and security. For example:
Each donation is allocated to the chosen charity when it is made, and this cannot be changed.
Occasionally people donate to the wrong tribute page or charity so, when this happens, we refund the donation as it cannot be diverted elsewhere.
We pay donations to charities and good causes monthly using secure, online transfer.
Tribute page owners have complete visibility of how much was raised in memory of their loved one and when payment has been made to their chosen charity.
Tribute owners can restrict who can view and contribute to the tribute page by making it private. This means that only invited friends and family can access the tribute.
The secure link for the tribute page can be shared easily via email, text and WhatsApp. Tributes can also be shared and linked to on social media, but with the knowledge that the pages are safe and secure
Tips for staying safe online
We’ve put together some basic precautions* for anyone using social media or other online platforms:
Use strong passwords. Using a sequence of three random words is recommended rather than something near and dear to you. Secure password generators and password managers can help those of us struggling to come up with and remember multiple passwords, and authenticator apps (Google and Microsoft) enable two-step verification from a mobile.
Be aware that attackers and scammers may pose as other people on social media, and it might appear that you have mutual contacts. So don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know and only share your posts with friends.
If you’re asked to click on a link or provide personal details, always double check the URL (website address) to see if it matches official ones that you recognise. Similarly with emails, look carefully at the sender’s address.
Think about verifying the request with the person or party it came from. For example, if you are sent a link to access, and you weren’t expecting it, check with the person who sent it to reassure yourself that it is genuine.
Consider deleting old messages and chats that might contain personal information or bank details that you have shared in the past.
*Sources: National Cyber Security Centre (report in The Times 28/3/24) and MuchLoved
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.
MuchLoved is an ethical business with robust processes. We are a registered Social Enterprise and ISO27001 accredited organisation. Everyone at MuchLoved is responsible for security management and safeguarding data, and we have teams dedicated to the development and maintenance of our service.
If you would like to know more about MuchLoved’s privacy and security policies, you can find details in our Frequently Asked Questions.
