PathAfter FAQ
Identity Theft and Online Fraud
Focused answers for people handling the first days, paperwork, and follow-up steps after a death in California.
Start checklistSurviving spouse, financial predators, and digital estate
How do identity thieves know when someone has died?They monitor public obituaries, death notices, probate court filings, and Social Security death records. A published obituary that includes the full name, date of birth, and survived-by list gives a thief most of what they need to open accounts in the deceased's…What steps should I take to protect a deceased person's identity?Send a certified death certificate to all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) requesting a deceased alert. Notify the SSA. Cancel or update government IDs. Cancel subscriptions. Monitor the deceased's credit report for 12 months after death. Consider a credit freeze —…What is a deceased credit freeze?Requesting that the credit bureaus suppress the deceased's credit file so no new accounts can be opened. Different from the living person credit freeze process — you send a death certificate and a letter requesting suppression. Contact each bureau separately. This is…What if I see fraudulent accounts opened in the deceased's name?File a police report. Contact the credit bureau where the fraudulent account appears and dispute it as fraud. Contact the creditor directly with the death certificate. File a complaint with the FTC at identitytheft.gov. In California, report to the California Attorney General's…What are Medicare fraud risks after a death?Medicare records can be used to file fraudulent claims for medical services never rendered. Notify Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 promptly after a death. Review any Explanation of Benefits statements that arrive after death — fraudulent charges should be reported to Medicare's fraud hotline…What if I get a tax refund check in the deceased's name?Do not cash it. Contact the IRS — if the check was legitimate, it belongs to the estate. If the return was filed fraudulently, it is tax identity theft. Report suspected tax identity theft to the IRS at 1-800-908-4490. File a paper…What phishing scams target people who have recently lost someone?Fake emails claiming to be from banks, the IRS, Social Security, or insurance companies asking for "verification" of the deceased's information or your own. Fake charity solicitations after an obituary. Fake probate attorneys or heir hunters. Rule: never respond to unsolicited contact…What if someone is using the deceased's social media accounts?Report the account to the platform as belonging to a deceased person. Facebook allows memorialization or removal. Instagram allows removal with a death certificate. Twitter/X allows deactivation with documentation. If you believe someone has hacked the account, report it immediately — social…What about charity scams after a death?Obituaries that request memorial donations to a charity attract fake charity solicitors. Before donating, verify any charity at Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org) or the California Attorney General's Registry of Charitable Trusts (oag.ca.gov/charities). Legitimate charities do not pressure for immediate donations.What if I find out the deceased was a victim of a scam before they died?The estate may have legal recourse. Contact the California Department of Justice Bureau of Malpractice Investigation, the FTC, or a consumer protection attorney. If significant money was involved, a private attorney may take the case on contingency. Document everything you find —…