Mississippi Man Loses $620 to Fake Agent

Tim Williams had $620 in cash available when a woman called claiming she was his sister's life insurance agent. She requested $1,375 to release payment to Corinthian Funeral Home for Stephanie Jeanine Williams Machado's services. Williams sent the $620 he had through Cash App to his nephew, who forwarded the funds.

The woman provided account numbers and policy numbers during the call. Williams joined a three-way phone conversation with her and the funeral home, and said the exchange appeared legitimate. She told him to send the money however was easiest, either by visiting the insurance office or using Cash App.

The funeral home later told Williams it never received any payment. He searched the phone number that contacted him and found it belonged to a man living in Alabama. The number did not match the woman who called him or the name attached to the Cash App account.

Williams said the timing made the loss harder to take. "When you're already in a bad time in your life .. losing your loved one. Then for somebody to do this on top of that takes a pretty low individual to go to that extent," he said.

Williams, who lives in Corinth, Mississippi, said anyone handling a sudden loss should verify every detail with the funeral home or insurer before sending money.