Dirty Money Season 1 Episode 11 Coffin Up Big Bucks

In the eleventh episode of Dirty Money’s first season, titled “Coffin Up Big Bucks,” the show focuses on the greed and corruption surrounding the funeral industry in America. The episode reveals how certain funeral homes take advantage of grieving families by resorting to various unethical and illegal practices to profit from their loss.

The episode starts by introducing us to the case of a 26-year old soldier Nick Sprovtsoff, who died fighting for his country in Afghanistan. Nick's family was devastated by his death, but what followed was even more traumatic. The family discovered that the funeral home they entrusted with Nick's remains had charged them exorbitant fees and had failed to deliver the services they promised. They filed a lawsuit against the funeral home, only to find out that it was just the tip of the iceberg.

The episode follows the investigation of the Sprovtsoff case, which led to a wider inquiry into the funeral industry in America. We learn how the industry has become an unregulated and highly lucrative business, where large corporations with deep pockets have taken over small funeral homes to increase their profits. As a result, the industry has become more focused on profit margins than on providing meaningful services to the grieving families.

The show takes us behind the scenes of several funerals to expose how the industry operates. We get to see how funeral directors exploit the families by pushing expensive caskets, urns, and other services that are not necessary or are overpriced. They also create a sense of urgency or fear and use high-pressure tactics to convince the families to spend more money.

Another practice the episode tackles is the abuse of the embalming process, which is not required by law, but many funeral homes make it sound like a necessity. We learn that the process is not only unnecessary but is also harmful to the environment and can have severe health risks for the embalmers themselves.

The episode also reveals how some funeral homes intentionally mislead customers by using deceptive advertising and hiding the actual costs of the services. For example, they offer package deals that seem reasonable but end up overcharging for the services that the families do not need.

Dirty Money’s “Coffin Up Big Bucks” is an eye-opening exposé of an industry that preys on the vulnerability of people during one of the most emotional moments in their lives. The episode uncovers how an unregulated industry has become a haven for corruption, greed, and exploitation. By investigating the case of Nick Sprovtsoff and the larger issues within the funeral industry, the show reveals the urgent need for regulation and transparency in the industry.

Overall, “Coffin Up Big Bucks” is a powerful and moving episode, and it sheds light on the dark side of the funeral industry in America. It also provides insight into how the funeral industry can be reformed to provide more ethical and meaningful services to the grieving families who entrust their loved ones' remains to them.