JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The FBI is looking into alleged misconduct by a preneed funeral company that had guaranteed hundreds of millions of dollars of services to families before becoming insolvent.

The FBI has sent letters to numerous funeral directors informing them of the probe into National Prearranged Services Inc. and its affiliated insurance companies, Lincoln Memorial Life Insurance Co. and Memorial Services Life Insurance Co.

The Oct. 29 letter, obtained by The Associated Press from a Missouri funeral home, states that investigators are "looking into allegations of corporate misconduct" involving the companies.

It does not elaborate on the allegations but asks funeral directors to fill out a questionnaire about their contracts with National Prearranged Services and any promises that the company made, and to mail it back to the FBI's office in St. Louis.

Also involved in the investigation are the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Internal Revenue Service, the letter states.