The Scam That Starts With Your Aunt's Obituary

CRA scams are not seasonal, and the information scammers need to make them convincing is sitting publicly on your social media profiles right now. Julie Matthews says most people do not realise how much they have already given away. Online obituaries have become a targeting tool. Julie Matthews explains how a surviving spouse can receive a call claiming the deceased filed incorrectly, or how a full family tree listed in a death notice gives scammers everything they need to impersonate a grandchild in trouble. The same concern applies to birth announcements posted publicly with full names, birthdays, and family relationships. A separate email address for banking, locked-down social media privacy settings, and a pause before reacting to anything unsolicited are the practical steps Matthews recommends. Topics: CRA scams, obituary scam, phishing emails, social media privacy, scam awareness Canada GUEST: Julie Matthews | http://standagainstscams.ca Originally aired on 2026-04-29