How to protect yourself from identity theft after the death of a loved one
In today’s world, people have access to all kinds of innovative devices and platforms, which help them defraud victims out of money and personal information. In the 2017 Identity Fraud Study published by Javelin Strategy & Research, it was found that nearly 15.4 million shoppers were the subject of some type of identity theft in 2016 alone.
Anyone can be a victim of identity theft and extortion, but unfortunately, it seems the most common targets these days are the deceased and their families. This is especially true for widows and widowers. If you’ve just lost a loved one, read on for some ways to protect yourself against identity theft and other similar types of crimes.
Identity theft and obituaries
Obituaries are one of the first places criminals look for the personal information they need to steal the identity of the deceased. These thieves are likely to obtain a person’s address, date of birth, maiden name, place of birth, family names, and much more identifying information. They can use this information to open multiple accounts, obtain credit, take out loans, and much more. They can even file taxes on behalf of the deceased and collect an annual refund.
For this reason, it’s wise to limit the amount of personal information you submit in your loved one’s obituary. Please refrain from including sensitive details such as dates of birth, addresses and maiden names. This information is very useful for criminals. Also, be sure to submit your loved one’s death certificate to the appropriate financial organizations. This includes the IRS, the DMV, banks, brokerage houses, credit card companies, mortgage companies, and credit bureaus like Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
extortion scams
Thieves do not just steal the identity of the deceased, but often go after relatives. A common scam used against family members, especially widows and widowers, is the debt collector scam. This is when a criminal with a wealth of personal information about the deceased and her family contacts the next of kin claiming to be a debt collector. They demand that relatives pay the debts of the deceased, and may even threaten legal action.
Sometimes, instead of claiming that there is a debt, they claim that they have vital financial or legal documents, but only release them for a fee. Tips to avoid this: Never make payments or give out personal information over the phone. Also, ask the caller for details about themselves; this usually scares them. For example, ask them for a name and phone number, and then tell them you’ll call them back. This works frequently.
inheritance scams
Another common scam operated by thieves who take advantage of the closest relatives of the deceased is the inheritance scam. A criminal will pose as an insurance agent or attorney and claim that he or she is owed an insurance policy payment or an inheritance. They will tell him that in order to receive it, he must first pay the final premium payment or processing fee. If this happens to you, be sure to ask the scammer several details to catch and scare them over the phone. If they are legitimate, they will have an office for you to visit and official documentation to review.