Criminals take advantage of the exceptional emotional situation following a death. We show you the most common scams and how you can protect yourself effectively.
This article is not meant to frighten you, but to provide you with the necessary knowledge. We show you how to recognize fraud schemes, effectively protect yourself and your family, and where to find quick and uncomplicated professional help in case of emergency.
Why Grieving People Become Targets: The Scammers' Calculation
Scammers don't act randomly, but with cold calculation. They know that grief, stress, and exhaustion weaken judgment and make people more susceptible to manipulation. Their tactics target exactly these vulnerabilities.
- The emotional crisis situation: Those who are grieving don't have a clear head to examine bills, letters, and phone calls with the necessary suspicion. Scammers deliberately exploit this emotional burden.
- The information source of obituaries: An obituary is an important part of saying goodbye. But it often contains names, places of residence, and family relationships that criminals misuse for their purposes.
- The financial damage: The extent of the problem is shocking. Telephone-based fraud schemes alone cause annual damage of over 117 million euros in Germany, as reported by the Federal Criminal Police Office.
The Most Common Fraud Schemes in Germany in Detail
The methods used by perpetrators are diverse, but often follow similar patterns. Here are the most common schemes you should be wary of.
Scheme 1: Fake Bills to the Bereavement Address
This is one of the most common and despicable methods. The perpetrators systematically search obituaries for addresses of survivors. Shortly after, they send professional-looking but fake bills for alleged services or debts of the deceased. The topics range from fictitious craftsman costs to unpaid subscriptions to alleged fees for registry entries. They speculate that relatives will pay the bill unchecked from the estate in their grief.
In one well-known case, a scammer posed as an official "Federal Gazette for Burials." He sent official-looking letters with a fake federal eagle logo and demanded nearly 200 euros for a fictitious "unlimited internet listing" of the deceased.
Scheme 2: Official Pressure and Fictitious Fees
In this scheme, criminals pose as employees of an authority, court, or notary. They send letters demanding fees for mandatory entries or data deletion, citing alleged laws.
A particularly insidious example was a letter demanding a fee of 370 euros for alleged data deletion, falsely citing §37b of the German Civil Code – a paragraph that actually relates to tax law. The perpetrators deliberately used modern online banks to quickly transfer the money.
Scheme 3: "Shock Calls" Related to the Death
Unlike the classic "grandchild trick," the callers here don't pose as relatives. Instead, they identify themselves as alleged employees of the hospital, nursing home, a lawyer, or even the funeral home. They claim there are still outstanding, urgent bills from the deceased that must be settled immediately to avoid legal consequences or additional costs. The psychological pressure built up is meant to push victims into quick transfers.
Scheme 4: Digital Fraud and Identity Theft ("Ghosting")
Here, criminals use data from the obituary (full name, birth and death dates, last place of residence) to hijack the deceased's identity. With this information, they can file fraudulent tax returns, open credit accounts, order goods online, or even take out loans. The damage often only becomes apparent months later.
Warning Signs: How to Recognize a Fraud Attempt
Even though scammers operate professionally, there are typical warning signs that should make you alert. Watch for the following indicators:
- Unexpected contact: You receive unsolicited calls, emails, or letters about alleged debts or contracts of the deceased.
- Enormous time pressure: You're pressured to act or pay immediately. Often threats are made about late fees, legal action, or other negative consequences.
- Unusual payment methods: You're asked to transfer money to a foreign account (recognizable by an IBAN that doesn't start with "DE"), or to pay bills via online payment services, prepaid credit cards, or even gift cards.
- Official appearance but false details: The documents look official at first glance but contain incorrect legal bases, spelling errors, or inappropriate senders.
- Vague information: The bill contains no detailed service description, no customer or contract number, and the sender is unclear.
Trust your gut feeling. Many fraud victims later report that they had an uneasy feeling from the beginning. If something seems strange to you, it probably is.
Your Shield: Concrete Steps for Prevention
You are not defenseless against scammers. With some simple but effective measures, you can significantly minimize the risk for yourself and your family.
Most Important First: Design the Obituary Safely
Your obituary is an important sign of remembrance. With small adjustments, you can significantly increase security:
- Less is more: In the public notice, avoid the exact birth date (the year alone is often sufficient) and the complete private address.
- Protect the bereavement address: This is the most important lever against fake bills. Instead of your private address, provide the address of the commissioned funeral home. Reputable funeral directors are trained to recognize suspicious mail and intercept it for you.
Find more tips in our Guide to Designing Obituaries.
Handling Bills and Demands
- Never pay immediately: Under no circumstances let yourself be pressured. Take time to calmly examine every unexpected demand.
- Verify independently: Always contact the alleged sender via an official, self-researched phone number or website. Never use the contact details from the suspicious document.
- The four-eyes principle: Always discuss unexpected or high demands with a second person from your family or circle of friends.
Immediate Financial Measures After Death
Act quickly to secure the deceased's finances and prevent misuse. A detailed overview of all important administrative steps can be found in our Checklist for Death Cases.
What to Do If It Happens? Help and Contact Points in Germany
If you or a relative have become victims of fraud, it's important to act quickly and correctly. And most importantly first:
Step 1: Don't be ashamed! Anyone can become a victim. This is not a question of intelligence or naivety, but a sign of the high professionalism of the perpetrators. Talk about it!
Step 2: Act and File a Report
- Police: If there's acute danger or perpetrators are on site, always call emergency number 110. In all other cases, file a report at your local police station or via your state's online police station.
- Inform your bank: If money has been transferred, immediately contact your bank to possibly stop the payment. Block affected accounts and cards via the central blocking emergency number 116 116.
Step 3: Get Professional Support
- Weisser Ring e.V.: This is Germany's largest aid organization for crime victims. Under the free and anonymous Victim Telephone 116 006 (daily 7 AM-10 PM), you'll find human support and practical help – regardless of whether you've filed a report.
- Consumer Center: The Consumer Centers of the federal states offer cost-effective legal advice for dubious bills, debt collection demands, and imposed contracts.
Conclusion: Knowledge as the Best Protection
At a time when you need all your strength for grief processing, you shouldn't also have to fear scammers. The best protection is knowledge. By knowing the common schemes, being careful when designing obituaries, and remaining suspicious of unexpected demands, you can significantly reduce the risk.
Be vigilant, but not overly anxious. Carefully examine whom you entrust with what information. And always remember: you don't have to go through this difficult time alone. Don't hesitate to take advantage of the professional and often free help available in Germany.