Funeral Scams: Deceived Undertakers Sent to Non-Existent Deaths
Macabre Hoax Targets Funeral Homes, Taxi Services with Fake Death Calls
By Theodore Blake, Business Editor
A disturbing pattern of elaborate hoaxes is targeting funeral directors and taxi services in Belgium, with an unknown perpetrator repeatedly orchestrating fake calls about deceased individuals. The elaborate deception has led to extensive travel and wasted resources for unsuspecting businesses.
Reports indicate that multiple funeral homes have been contacted by a woman claiming her daughter has passed away. In one particularly galling instance, a funeral director from Ronse, located approximately 125 kilometers away from Stabroek, was dispatched to retrieve a supposedly deceased daughter, only to find the individual alive and well. This particular funeral home director, Grégory Devos, a third-generation undertaker, described the situation as a “macabre prank call” made from a private number.
“This is no joke, but a macabre prank call via a private number.”
Devos recounted how the caller insisted on using his services, citing family ties to Ronse, and refused his suggestion to use a local funeral home in Stabroek. Despite the distance and late hour, Devos’s team eventually traveled to Stabroek, only to discover the woman was alive.
The deception has not been limited to funeral homes in the Stabroek area. Johan Dexters, president of Funebra, the professional federation for funeral directors, confirmed that numerous funeral homes in the Antwerp region have also been targeted. Initially, the anonymous caller projected an air of credibility, leading many to believe the claims. However, as funeral directors in Antwerp became aware of the ongoing ruse, the perpetrator has reportedly expanded their reach to businesses outside the province.
“I’ve since spoken to a colleague from Eksaarde, in East Flanders, who also drove all the way to Stabroek through traffic jams, all for nothing.”
Funebra has since issued a warning to all its members to be vigilant against such calls.
Beyond Funeral Services
Adding another layer to this bizarre deception, the same woman in Stabroek has reportedly received dozens of unsolicited taxi and ambulance services in recent weeks, according to reports from GVA.be. This indicates a broader pattern of misuse of emergency and transportation services.
A formal complaint has been filed with the police, but the identity of the anonymous caller remains an enigma. The repercussions of these false alarms extend beyond wasted travel time and fuel costs, potentially impacting the availability of services for genuine emergencies and causing distress to those involved.