Identity thieves are grave robbers. These scam artists steal the identities of the recently deceased and apply for credit cards and open checking accounts (and get them) if they have access to personal information. Here are 4 Tips to help foil the identity thieves of the dead.
1. Do not include a date of birth or address in any obituary. This not only helps prevent identity theft, it reduces the chances of a thief robbing the home.
2. Mail copies of the Death Certificate to the 3 credit reporting bureaus asking them to cancel all accounts of the dearly departed. The 3 credit bureaus are: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
3. Contact your state’s Motor Vehicle department (DMV) and cancel their driver’s license. This will prevent duplicates from being issued.
4. Several weeks after death, run a Credit Report on the deceased to check for anything suspicious.
The dead should rest in peace.
Source: AARP Bulletin March 2007, Grave Robbery by Sid Kirchheimer.
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