The Basics of Deceased Family Member Identity Theft
Deceased family member identity theft, also known as ghosting, occurs when someone uses the personal information of a deceased person to commit fraud. This can include opening new credit accounts, applying for loans or making other financial transactions in the deceased person’s name. In some cases, the identity thief may even try to assume the deceased person’s identity by obtaining a new driver’s license or passport in their name.
How Deceased Family Member Identity Theft Occurs
There are a few reasons why this type of identity theft is becoming more common. It can be relatively easy for identity thieves to obtain the personal information of the deceased. This is because many death records are public information and can be easily accessed online.
In addition, many people don’t shred important documents that contain their personal information. This makes it easy for identity thieves to go through the deceased person’s belongings and find everything they need to commit fraud.
Finally, family members of the deceased may be preoccupied with making funeral arrangements and dealing with other issues associated with the death. This can make it difficult for them to notice if someone is using their loved one’s identity to commit fraud.