Email scam fakes funeral notices

There is a new email scam making the rounds, one that lures people in by leading them to believe a friend has died, but it doesn't tell them who.

The messages, disguised as funeral notices, direct recipients to click on a link for more information.

"But instead of pointing to the funeral home's website, it sends you to a foreign domain. Scammers place malware on these third party websites that downloads to your computer, giving scammers access to information on your machine," reports Better Business Bureau writer Emily Patterson.

The emailed invitations to funerals or remembrance services appear legitimate because the senders are hijacking the names and logos of actual funeral homes.

Since January, several funeral homes in Texas and Kansas have been targeted, and like most email scams, the ploy appears to be spreading and will likely change as it does.

The emails often include an upcoming date of a funeral service or remembrance ceremony, creating a sense of urgency in the recipient.

The Better Business Bureau urges anyone who receives an email message like this - one that doesn't name the deceased - to hit the delete button rather than the link.

"If you get one and you are concerned you might miss a real memorial, you can put your mind at rest by checking the funeral chapel's website or scanning the local newspaper's death notices," said Eric English of English Funeral Chapels and Crematory in Coeur d'Alene.

The Better Business Bureau offers the following tips to avoid email scams:

* Don't believe what you see. Scammers can easily copy a real business' colors, logo and even email address.

* Hover over links to check their source. Place your mouse over hyper-linked text and the true destination will appear.

* Be wary of unexpected emails that contain links or attachments. As always, do not click on links or open the files in unfamiliar email.

* Beware of pop-ups. Some pop-ups are designed to look like they've originated from your computer. If you see a pop-up that warns of a problem that needs to be fixed with an extreme level of urgency, it may be a scam.

* Watch for poor grammar and spelling. Scam email is often riddled with typos.

* Ignore calls for immediate action. Scam email tries to get you to act before you think, by creating a sense of urgency. Don't fall for it.