The tragic death of 17-year-old Lucy Grant, who passed away in her home in Johnstone on April 15, has led to her grieving family becoming targets of fraudulent activity. Lucy suffered from epilepsy, which had worsened over the past year, causing debilitating seizures that prevented her from attending school. On the day of her death, her mother Lynette and step-father Stuart discovered she was unresponsive and attempted CPR until emergency services arrived, but unfortunately, Lucy could not be revived.
Following the announcement of her funeral set for May 1, Lynette requested that mourners wear pink to honour her daughter's memory. However, just hours after the funeral details were made public, malicious actors created a fake Facebook page purporting to offer a live stream of the service for a fee. This fraudulent page targeted Lucy's friends and family, soliciting them for money under false pretences.
Lynette took to social media to address the issue, stating, “Lucy’s funeral wasn’t streamed and anyone who knows us knows that there's not a chance she would have been having any mass.” She urged her social circle to report the fraudulent page and expressed concerns over the potential for unsuspecting individuals to have already fallen victim to the scammers.
The situation was compounded by a recent incident where Lucy's death prompted a distressing scene involving police and ambulance services. Family members reported that Lucy lay deceased in her bedroom for nine and a half hours while personnel debated over jurisdiction regarding the removal of her body. Both agencies later apologised and announced that they would conduct an internal investigation into the incident.
The National Association of Funeral Directors has noted a troubling trend of similar scams targeting grieving families, particularly those who have gained media attention following a loved one's death. Nick Britten from the association highlighted the common tactics used by fraudsters, including requests for credit card details to access purported live streams of funerals or to facilitate fundraising. He emphasised the importance of public vigilance, advising individuals to verify any such claims directly with the family or official funeral directors, as legitimate services typically do not charge for live streaming funerals.
Scotland has seen an increase in these deceitful practices, with a growing number of bereaved families being exploited through social media. The recent incidents surrounding Lucy Grant's death serve as a stark reminder of the vulnerability that accompanies loss, alongside the unscrupulous behaviour of those looking to take advantage of the situation.
Source: Noah Wire Services