Tips to Prevent Identity Theft from the Dead
Twenty-five percent of stolen identities each year are from dead people. A family grieving the death of a loved one doesn’t need the headaches of identity theft on top of the pain of loss. The identities of the dead are easier to steal and abuse than those of the living; after all, they cannot defend themselves.
But there are ways to minimize information exposure to help put the dead and their finances to rest. Here are six tips to avoid identity theft after death.
Alert to credit bureaus – When someone dies, the surviving spouse or estate representative should contact the credit reporting agencies: Experian (888-397-3742), Equifax (800-685-1111), and TransUnion (800-888-4213). You will need to provide the decedent’s Social Security number and tell them that the person has died. Request that your credit report be marked “Deceased. Do not issue credit.” Also, request a copy of the deceased’s credit report so you know which accounts need to be closed.
Follow up with each agency by sending a letter by certified mail. Provide proof of your relationship to the decedent and proof of authority for the application. Correspondence must include the decedent’s name, last address, Social Security number, date of birth, date of death, and a copy of the death certificate. Include your name, contact information, and relationship to the deceased. If you are the court-appointed estate representative, you must also include proof of your court appointment. Keep a copy of this letter for your records.
Contact the Social Security Administration – The Social Security Administration (SSA) wants to know if someone died so they can take them off the payroll. As an incentive, they provide a $225 death benefit when you report a deceased beneficiary. Why a whopping $225? Because that’s what an average funeral cost in 1938 when the SSA was established. It is an SSA benefit that has never been adjusted for inflation. Today, that won’t cover an obituary in a major market newspaper.
Close credit card accounts – When you’re alive, closing credit card accounts affects your credit score. After you’re dead, it doesn’t matter! Don’t let a thief go shopping by leaving credit card accounts open. The surviving spouse or executor must resolve all outstanding debts before the account can be closed or the deceased person’s name can be removed from the account.
Keep the obituaries short – You wouldn’t put a Social Security number in an obituary. However, the details prized by genealogy researchers also help identity thieves. It is a sad fact that information such as place of birth, mother’s maiden name, date of birth, and date of death can be used to set up new accounts in the deceased person’s name. Avoid including such details in obituaries that are shared publicly in newspapers or online.
Close email and social media accounts – Closing email and social media accounts can help prevent identity theft as well as minimize painful reminders of loss. Help your family handle this task by writing a list of all your online and email accounts, with usernames and passwords. Keep this list up to date and in a safe place where an executor knows to look it up.
Protect documents with sensitive information – The executor or trustee must secure the decedent’s driver’s license, bank statements, military records, and other documents with a Social Security number. Identity theft can often originate within the family. Someone may feel that it was shortened in the will; someone can be an addict. There can be any number of family problems.
Follow these steps to help ensure the identity of the deceased as soon as possible. You can save yourself a lot of heartache and heartache.