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Be Aware: Imposters Posing as McAlister-Smith Staff Members

We deeply care about protecting your family from scams and fraudulent activity, which is why we want to let you know about a scam we’ve become aware of.


If you receive a call from someone stating they work for McAlister-Smith and they ask for your personal information or payment details, this is a scam! Our staff will never request personal information, credit card information, or solicit payments by phone or email.


We take this matter very seriously, so if you receive a call that you suspect is from a scammer, please notify us immediately by calling us. We have taken every precaution to ensure your information is secure, but unfortunately, these scams are becoming more prevalent. We must all be vigilant to curb these appalling acts targeting grieving families.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are McAlister-Smith’s systems secure?

    Yes, our computer systems are secure, and your data is safe. Scammers are using information readily found online to identify families and then calling to get the personal details they need to commit fraud.

  • How do I spot a scam?

    According to the Federal Trade Commission, every scam has tell-tale signs. If you learn to identify these signs, you can avoid falling into the scammer’s trap. 


    Four Signs that It’s a Scam:

    1. The scammer pretends to be from an organization you know. 
    2. The scammer says there’s a problem with your account or you’ve won a prize.
    3. The scammer pressures you to act immediately (giving you no time to think).
    4. The scammer will tell you to pay in a very specific way.

  • How do I avoid a scam?

    1. Block unwanted calls or text messages.
    2. Don’t give personal or financial information to a request you didn’t expect (tell the person you will call back with your information; then, you can give the real business a call and confirm that they contacted you).
    3. Resist the pressure to act immediately (you don’t have to do anything).
    4. Familiarize yourself with how scammers tell you to pay (scammers often say you can only use cryptocurrency, a wire transfer, a payment app, or a gift card).
    5. Stop and talk with someone you trust (and call the true business to confirm whether they need anything from you).

    Source: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-scam 

  • How do I report a scam call?

    The best defense is a good offense. When receiving calls, remember these three truths:


    1. Don’t trust your Caller ID.
    2. Hang up on robocalls (ones where it’s an automated message, not a person).
    3. Use call blocking to block unwanted phone numbers.

    You can visit ftc.gov/calls to learn how to block calls. And if you think you’ve received a call from a scammer, report is at donotcall.gov. 


    Source: https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2021/05/unwanted-calls-just-block-em-and-report-em 

  • What should I do if I gave my information to or paid a scam caller?

    If you have already paid a scammer or given them your information, you may still be able to stop the fraudulent activity if you act quickly. 


    Visit https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/phone-scams#whattodo to learn what you should do, depending on how you paid the scammer or what information you gave them.  

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