Area funeral director warns public of pre-need scams

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Grenada County Coroner Eddie “Skeeter” Robinson is currently out on bond after being indicted in DeSoto County.

The coroner was accused of selling fake funeral plans to elderly citizens.

Unfortunately, Coroner Robinson isn’t the first person to allegedly sell a fake funeral plan.

Drew Massey with Nowell-Massey Funeral Home in Louisville said it’s an issue he’s seen a few times in his career.

When Massey first heard about the DeSoto County funeral scams, he felt a range of emotions.

“First of all, it’s anger that anyone would prey upon the elderly like that or anyone. It doesn’t matter, but especially the elderly because those are the ones that are coming in and looking for a pre-arranged funeral plan,” said Massey.

Massey said he’s spent the past 14 years of his career trying to earn the community’s trust.

“Try to have a rapport with the people. When people understand that, when they see a funeral director out and about whether it be at church or a school event, community event, when they start getting that personal relationship and rapport with them, then the trusting aspect is there,” said Massey.

Part of that trust comes from having the proper documentation.

“Every time somebody takes out a pre-need funeral service policy with us through a licensed insurance agency, they’re going to send them the quote every month. They are going to send them stuff with identification numbers on it to make sure that it matches up,” said Massey.

In fact, he said buying a policy from an individual instead of an established business, should be the first red flag.

“I would go through a funeral home, definitely, before I would go through any individual because now days sadly scams are everywhere,” said Massey.

Massey said a person’s best line of defense, is to pay attention to detail.

“If somebody is going to do a false write-up, they’re going to have some flaws somewhere in there. If they’re making up stuff, they’re not going to go through with it to the full extent trying to do contracts and stuff,” said Massey.

Massey also said you should never handle funeral arrangements over the phone. Instead, sit down with someone in person.