WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — A “heartless” scam is targeting Central Georgia families during their most vulnerable moments, with callers posing as funeral home employees and demanding thousands of dollars over the phone just minutes after grieving relatives make arrangements for their loved ones.

Houston County Coroner James Williams said the scheme has affected nearly a dozen families in the past year, with scammers calling within hours, sometimes just 10 minutes, after families leave funeral homes.

"The family is already going through one of the hardest things they've ever went through and to have somebody call trying to scam them for money," Williams said. "It's absolutely heartbreaking."

The scam recently targeted Natalie Howard and her family member after they made private arrangements f

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