Protecting a Deceased Person's Identity

Post-death identity theft — sometimes called "ghosting" — is a serious and growing problem in the United States. The FTC estimates that up to 2.5 million deceased Americans have their identities stolen each year. Thieves obtain personal information from obituaries, public records, and data breaches, then use it to open credit cards, file fraudulent tax returns, claim benefits, or take out loans.

The good news: a few targeted steps, taken promptly, can dramatically reduce this risk. This guide tells you exactly what to do.

Why Deceased People Are Vulnerable

Fraudsters target deceased people for a simple reason: the victim can't report the crime. Deaths are often publicly announced in obituaries that include names, dates, ages, family relationships, and sometimes hometowns — a treasure trove of information for identity thieves. Credit monitoring systems may take months to flag a deceased person's account as inactive, leaving a window for fraud.

Step 1: Notify the Three Major Credit Bureaus

This is the single most important step. Notifying all three credit bureaus places a "deceased" indicator on the deceased's credit file, which prevents any new accounts from being opened in their name.

Send a letter to each bureau with:

• A certified copy of the death certificate
• The deceased's full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and last known address
• Your name and relationship to the deceased

Contact information for each bureau:

• Equifax: equifax.com/personal/deceased-consumer or PO Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348
• Experian: experian.com/lp/notify-us-of-death or Experian, PO Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
• TransUnion: transunion.com/deceased or TransUnion, PO Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016

You can also request a credit report for the deceased to check for any fraudulent activity already on file. The executor or immediate family member has the right to obtain this report.

Step 2: Notify the Social Security Administration

The SSA shares information with credit bureaus and financial institutions. Call 1-800-772-1213 to report the death. Funeral homes often notify SSA directly, but confirm that this has been done.

Once the SSA records the death, the Social Security number is flagged in federal databases, making it harder (though not impossible) for fraudsters to use it for tax fraud or benefit claims.

Step 3: Close or Transfer Vulnerable Accounts

Open accounts are the primary vector for post-death identity theft. Priority accounts to close or transfer:

• Bank accounts (sole accounts)
• Credit cards
• Online shopping accounts (Amazon, eBay)
• PayPal, Venmo, Cash App
• Email accounts
• Social media accounts

See our complete guide to closing and transferring accounts after a death.

Step 4: Cancel Government-Issued Identification

• Driver's license / State ID: Notify the state DMV of the death. Bring the death certificate to the DMV, or mail a copy to the DMV's deceased person's unit. The DMV will cancel the license number in their system.
• Passport: Mail the original passport and a certified copy of the death certificate to the US Department of State, National Passport Center, Consular Lost and Stolen Passport Section, 1111 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. The passport will be cancelled and returned to you.

Step 5: Monitor for Fraudulent Activity

After taking the steps above, monitor for signs that the deceased's identity has been compromised:

• New mail addressed to the deceased (particularly credit card offers, collection notices, or IRS correspondence about unfiled returns)
• Calls from creditors about accounts you didn't know about
• Unexpected items on the credit report (request a final credit report from each bureau after notifying them)
• A notice from the IRS that the deceased's Social Security number was used on a tax return (tax identity theft is especially common)

If Identity Theft Has Already Occurred

If you discover fraud:

1. File a report at identitytheft.gov (the FTC's identity theft portal has specific guidance for deceased individuals)
2. File a police report
3. Contact the creditor or institution where the fraud occurred — they have processes for handling deceased identity theft
4. Contact the credit bureaus about any fraudulent accounts on the deceased's report and request their removal
5. If tax fraud is involved, complete IRS Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) for the deceased and mail it to the IRS

Protecting the Obituary

Obituaries are a major source of data for identity thieves. Consider omitting these details from public obituaries:

• Exact birth date (use birth year only, or omit)
• Home address
• Whether the house is now vacant
• Specific dates when family will be at the funeral home (thieves may use this to target empty homes)

For guidance on all the accounts to close after a death, see our guide to closing and transferring accounts. For the complete list of notifications after a death, see our notification checklist.