Identity Theft and Online Fraud
How do identity thieves know when someone has died?
Short answer
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 this usually means
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 name.
What to do next
- Start the PathAfter checklist for situation-aware first steps.
- Find California county phone numbers for coroner, vital records, and local offices.
- Open the First 72 Hours Call Log before making calls.
- Open the Documents to Find Checklist when you are ready for paperwork.