In an unsettling trend, scammers are now exploiting Facebook by creating groups that falsely claim to offer live streaming of funeral services for the recently deceased. This scheme not only preys on the grief of family and friends but also attempts to steal personal and financial information. Following fraudulent links, users are directed to sites where they are asked to provide their credit card details, all under the guise of attending a virtual memorial for a loved one.
A Growing Scandal
Brian Krebs from KrebsOnSecurity recently highlighted this scam after hearing from a reader named George. George was alerted to the issue when a Facebook group was created in memory of a friend who had just passed away. The page included the correct details for the funeral but linked to a site asking for payment to access the supposed live stream. This was not an isolated incident. After sharing his experience, George learned that the same scam had targeted another friend’s funeral service just two weeks earlier.
A quick search of Facebook reveals countless groups with similar setups, using images of the deceased as their profile pictures. These groups not only request credit card information but also brazenly ask for donations in the name of the deceased, adding insult to injury for grieving families.
How Widespread Is This Scam?
Determining how many people have fallen victim to this scam is difficult. However, the fact that many of these fake funeral groups attract followers from the deceased’s real friends and family suggests that some users are being fooled. In some cases, mourners may even miss attending the funeral altogether, mistakenly believing it was available to stream online.
The Players Behind the Fraud
One of the domains linked to these fake funeral streams is livestreamnow[.]xyz, registered in November 2023. The organization behind this domain, apkdownloadweb, operates from Rajshahi, Bangladesh, and uses DNS servers from a Bangladeshi hosting company called webhostbd[.]net. This entity has also registered other streaming-related domains, such as live24sports[.]xyz and onlinestreaming[.]xyz, all of which follow a similar fraudulent pattern.
An in-depth investigation into these domains reveals they are hosted at an IP address in Germany, alongside nearly 6,000 other websites, many of which also peddle fake streaming services. Some of these websites claim to stream everything from sports events to graduations, weddings, and even community events promoted by local police departments.
Who Are the Scammers?
At the heart of this fraudulent network is Mazidul Islam, who appears to be the main individual behind apkdownloadweb[.]com. His LinkedIn profile claims he was involved with an IT blog, while other records trace his activities to various suspicious domains. Islam is connected to another individual, Mehedi Hasan, who is associated with these fraudulent domains.
Further investigation reveals that one of the administrators of apkdownloadweb[.]com had their computer infected by malware, exposing their passwords and other sensitive information. This led to the discovery that the mastermind behind this scam is a 20-something native of Dhaka, Bangladesh, named Mohammod Abdullah Khondokar. Both Khondokar and Hasan are linked through social media, and although attempts were made to reach them for comment, neither responded.
Protect Yourself
Scams targeting vulnerable moments, such as funerals, are particularly heinous. While Facebook has systems to report such fraudulent groups, users must be vigilant. Here are some tips to help avoid falling victim to these scams:
Verify the Source:
If a group or page claims to be streaming a funeral or other event, contact the family or official organizers directly to confirm its authenticity.
Be Cautious of Payment Requests:
Legitimate funeral services or memorial streams do not typically require upfront payments to view. If a page is asking for credit card information, it’s a red flag.
Report Suspicious Activity:
If you come across a page or group that seems to be a scam, report it to Facebook and warn others who may be following it.
Conclusion
The emotional manipulation and financial exploitation seen in this funeral streaming scam are deeply troubling. As scammers evolve tactics, users stay aware and take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones from falling victim to these schemes.
By sharing this information and staying vigilant, we can reduce the impact of such heartless scams and help prevent others from being duped in times of grief.
