Protecting a Deceased Loved One's Identity From Fraud

It's a detail most families never expect to think about, but a deceased loved one's identity is a common and specific target for fraud during the months an estate is being settled.

Why this happens

Identity thieves actively search obituaries, public records, and death notices specifically looking for this opportunity. Because the person is no longer monitoring their own accounts, this kind of fraud, opening new credit cards, applying for loans, filing fraudulent tax returns, often goes undetected far longer than it would against a living person.

Steps to reduce the risk

Notify the three major credit bureaus as early as possible in the process, and consider placing a freeze or alert on the deceased's credit file. Avoid including specific identifying details, like a full birth date or mother's maiden name, in a published obituary, since these details are sometimes used to answer security questions on financial accounts.

Monitoring throughout probate

Because estate settlement often takes many months, ongoing monitoring matters more than a single notification. Fraud attempts sometimes surface well after the initial flurry of notifications, particularly if the deceased's information was ever exposed in an earlier data breach.

What to do if fraud is discovered

If suspicious activity turns up on a deceased person's accounts, report it to the credit bureaus, the financial institution involved, and, if necessary, the Federal Trade Commission. Acting quickly limits the damage and simplifies resolving it as part of the broader estate settlement process.