The weirdest thing just happened to me.

[ShazzieB]

I got a call from the social worker at the care facility where my sister lives saying that THEY had received a call notifying them that I had passed away! (Thank God they hadn't told my sister without verifying it first.) Of course, I assured them that no such thing had happened.

AND I also got a text from one of my cousins saying that another cousin's wife got a call from someone claiming to be law enforcement, notifying her of my demise. Aside from the fact that I am absolutely very much alive, there's NO reason why any of my cousins or their spouses would receive a call like that, as none of them are listed anywhere as an emergency contact for me. My emergency contacts are my husband and my daughter, period, full stop.

Needless to say, I am a bit weirded out by all this, wondering who on earth would do such a thing and what their motivation could possibly be. I can't think of a single thing anyone could gain by calling random people to tell them I'm dead. I also can't figure out why they picked those two particular numbers to call. I literally never talk to the cousin's wife who was called. We're not even Facebook friends. We have some mutual friends on FB, but no connection beyond that. I don't even have her phone number myself, and she's certainly not on any list of contacts that I have on file anywhere, nor is the care facility.

Same thing with the care facility. If something happened to me, my husband or my daughter would notify thm, but there's NO WAY anyone else would know to do that,

Have any of you ever heard of anything like this? I don't know what to make of it. I don't know who would be trying to fake my demise, or what they could hope to gain from it. It seems completely nonsensical, and it's freaking me out.

If you've read this far, thanks for sticking around. I really appreciate it.

[SheltieLover]

2. Weird!

No idea, ShazzieB!

[yellerpup]

3. Report it to the police

and have your relatives who were contacted directly to contact the police also. Good luck. Probably a very dark prank.

[Doodley]

4. It's possible, just possible, that you might be a ghost and not realize it.

[hlthe2b]

5. Yikes. I can't imagine unless it was an honest mistake. Someone heard or read about

a death for someone with a similar name or ???

But, if someone just wanted to cause problems or just see what would happen... who knows? I'd keep an eye on all things attached to your identity, accounts, and other sensitive information though. And I agree with making a police report.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. Keep a close watch on your credit report and credit cards and

even online banking. I mean like daily for awhile, at least for the banks. Confirm your Soc Sec hasn't been tampered with, like an address change. Sounds to me like someone trying to get their ducks in a row for some identity theft.

[Mr. Evil]

24. That's exactly what I was thinking.

Someone's grifting for some immediate benefits.

[Philosophizing Fool]

31. Exactly

Scams are ever evolving and faking a death is likely much easier than many of us realize. Good advice, this.

[Ocelot II]

7. Maybe someone with the same name died and it came up on social media?

[ShazzieB]

10. Maybe, but...

I have a very unusual last name. There just aren't very many people that have it. At least not in the US; there may be more in Poland, where my husband's grandparents came from.

My (Irish) maiden name is another kettle of fish. It's common enough to make genealogical research a royal pita. But I've been going by my Polish married name for almost 50 years now, and very few few people know ne by any other.

[Ocelot II]

15. Then I'd watch out for scams - maybe some attempt at identity theft is going on.

If it was me I'd figure they just got the wrong person, but my first and last names are both very common - there are dozens of me just in my state. If the name you've been going by is unusual, though, better to keep an eye on your accounts.

[druidity33]

23. Listen to Ocelot...

this sounds like someone fishing around identity theft. Might put a hold on your credit cards and/or check to see if any passwords have been changed or any accounts have been opened in your name.

[Bev54]

21. If that were the case, I wouldn't think someone from "law enforcement" would make a call

to tell a relative. I would notify your bank and report it to police, so you have a record in case something nefarious happens.

[Irish_Dem]

8. Scam? Vendetta? Mistaken identity?

[Thunderbeast]

9. I smell a scam.

Follow-on calls from a "lawyer" would likely ask relative to pay your bills.

[ShazzieB]

11. Ooh, I didn't think of that!

I was wondering about a scam, but I couldn't think what it might be. That sounds frighteningly plausible, considering some of the other scams I've heard about.

She knows I'm not dead now, fortunately!

[SheltieLover]

32. Freeze your bank cards & SSN with credit bureaus!

I agree to make police report.

[NotASurfer]

12. Agree about keeping an eye on credit and SSN

I was reminded of a story from this year about a French woman who had been sued by a former employee, and when the former employee lost, he simply went back to court later & told them she had died. Once that judge - not bothering to verify the death certificate apparently- signed off, he went after her assets. She was still fighting to have her legal status changed to alive at that time.

Found a recent story from Reuters about it

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/frenchwoman-officially-considered-dead-fights-be-alive-again-2021-08-31/

[TexasTowelie]

13. Your friends on Facebook need to check their privacy settings.

My brother got connected with a scam artist on Facebook that had contacted my brother's former boss. I traced the scam back to the bosses' Facebook account and then I showed him to make the changes to thwart the hackers. And yes, my brother fell for the sob story and sent money to the woman that posted lewd pictures.

It is the overlap of "mutual friends" that is getting you tied into the deception. If you have a Facebook account, then I advise going into "Settings & Privacy" to review what information that you agree to share.

[Patterson]

14. If you have trouble setting things straight, call your US senator(s.)

[brer cat]

16. That is very bizarre.

I would feel spooked if something like that happened to me.

[Demovictory9]

17. make sure all your accounts are on lockdown.

[marble falls]

18. I'd pay attention to my surroundings! When I lived in Cedar Rapids, Iowa - there was a ...

... a father and son with the same name as mine, and we shared the same branch of a local bank.

When the dad died. my wife got a letter of condolences and told per Iowa law our joint account was locked from her.

It's probably a weird coincidence of some sort.

[LisaL]

19. Very weird.

Is there any way to check as to what number those calls are coming from?

[Red Mountain]

20. Happy Halloween?

[Aussie105]

22. Damn, that's upsetting for you!

Ring around all the people you know, let them know you are ok.

And warn them about this.

Tell them, that if they get phone call concerning your fake demise, to play along and fish for clues who the call originates from.

People who need to make these calls in cases of sudden death are officials - medical, police, etc - and they will identify themselves clearly.

As above, most likely a mistake, a scam or malicious activity.
Take care!
Nice to hear the reports of your demise are highly inaccurate, though. Live long and prosper - to coin a phrase.

[TygrBright]

25. The rumors of your demise are clearly greatly exaggerated! n/t

[spike jones]

26. Have you seen "The Sixth Sense?" n/t

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

27. Okay, urso right... that was SOOOO weird!!

[demosurvivor]

28. Trace the shit down!!!

Find out the number from the care facility. Call your cousin and get tracking info from the phone call . There's a digital footprint here. Follow the audit trail. Involving the police should make this easier if you run into roadblocks. Once you find out who it was, then prosecute. Good luck. Believe me, there is a reason for someone to go to these extremes. It's sickening.

Follow that audit trail.

[Ka-Dinh Oy]

29. Should have told them that you are only half dead.

You became a zombie a few days ago.

[MLAA]

30. So sorry!

I’d ask cousin to check their phone log and give you the number of who called them🙂

[BComplex]

33. I don't do facebook. In spite of my LIBERAL (?) friends trying to press me to go on there,

I can't stand the place. Never could. Facebook has always been weird in the extreme in my opinion.

It was the same feeling I always had....from decades ago...about Donald Trump. I was ALWAYS creeped out by him. Couldn't really bear to look at him on tv or magazines. Gave me the willies the whole time. Same with facebook. And I'm in sales! Everyone kept telling me I could never succeed without facebook.

I'm doing pretty well without it.

[The Jungle 1]

34. Happened to me. A whole lot of friends thought I was dead.

Some seemed disappointed.
The news spread all the way to Alaska. I live on the east coast.
My event was just someone with the same name had died. Check the obits my be the same story.

[Upthevibe]

35. ShazzieB....

I find this REALLY bizarre!

I think you should definitely contact your local police dept and alert your bank and credit card companies.

If it's a scam, they're putting you on alert so that hardly makes sense.

This is a puzzle. Please keep us posted....