Military Funeral Honors Are Free: Don't Pay a Caller's “Insurance” Fee
Scammers threaten to cancel a veteran's military funeral honors unless the family pays. Hang up and verify arrangements with your funeral director.
Back to AlertsA caller who demands an “insurance” payment for a veteran's military funeral honors is trying to steal from a grieving family. MOAA renewed the warning on October 7: impostors claim to represent an honor guard or government office and threaten to cancel the ceremony unless someone pays.
Military OneSource confirms that military funeral honors for eligible veterans are provided at no cost to the family. Its guidance specifically warns about fake refundable insurance charges. This no-cost benefit concerns military honors, not every expense of a funeral.
PAUSE signs in this scam
- P — Pressure: The caller threatens to cancel a loved one's honors unless you pay.
- A — Authority or alarm: Someone claims to speak for the military or honor guard.
- U — Unusual requests: A supposedly refundable insurance charge is demanded for a free benefit.
Safest response: Hang up and call your funeral director using the number in your arrangements.
Learn all five PAUSE warning signs →
✅ What to do
Do not give the caller money or card details. Tell your funeral director what happened and ask them to confirm the honors arrangements. Offer to help a grieving relative make that call.
Report the request at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Read the official military funeral-honors guidance.