How To Protect Your Deceased Loved One’s Identity

Losing a loved one is a heartbreaking, gut-wrenching event that can turn your world upside down. Sadly, many criminals exploit this terrible event and steal your deceased loved one’s identity. In fact, the identities of almost 2.5 million deceased Americans have been stolen and used to fraudulently open credit card accounts, apply for loans and get cellphone or other services, according to AARP. The predators of this world troll for personal information from hospitals, funeral homes, and/or obituaries. With a name, address and birth date, criminals can purchase your deceased loved one’s Social Security number for a nominal fee. Don’t let this happen to your loved one. Here are some important tips from an estate administration perspective to help protect against identify theft of a deceased loved one: 1. Notify the three major credit reporting agencies right away and notify them of your loved one’s passing. It usually takes...