What if someone is using the deceased's social media accounts?

What this usually means

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 media accounts can be used to scam the deceased's contacts.

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.

Related questions

• How do identity thieves know when someone has died?
• What steps should I take to protect a deceased person's identity?
• What is a deceased credit freeze?
• What if I see fraudulent accounts opened in the deceased's name?
• What are Medicare fraud risks after a death?