New York State Government is reminding residents to stay vigilant and avoid becoming victims of funeral fraud and “end-of-life identity theft” scams after the passing of loved ones. The government pointed out that scammers often take advantage of family members during times of grief and confusion, using identity theft, fraudulent fundraising, financial scams, and deceptive funeral services to profit.
The New York State Department of Consumer Protection specifically warned about a scam known as the “After Death ‘Ghosting’ Scam,” in which identity thieves fraudulently use personal information of deceased individuals. Criminals typically gather information from obituaries, funeral homes, hospitals, stolen death certificates, and public websites, and then use this information to guess or obtain social security numbers, further opening credit accounts, applying for loans, or even filing false tax returns to claim refunds.
While in most cases, as long as a family member’s name is not on the account, they are not responsible for the stolen charges, such crimes often lead to account disputes, confusion in credit records, and lengthy administrative procedures, bringing additional stress and trouble to the family members.
The government warns that scammers also closely monitor obituaries and public records, impersonating the deceased, hacking into financial accounts, or even setting up fake online fundraising campaigns. Some fraud websites deliberately mimic legitimate funeral homes or memorial sites, while scammers may ask relatives and friends to wire money to buy non-existent flowers, commemorative gifts, or charity donations.
The state government advises family members to take the following measures to reduce the risk of identity theft:
• When writing obituaries, avoid disclosing complete birth dates, maiden names, or other personal identifying information to avoid becoming fodder for identity thieves.
• Call the Social Security Administration (800-772-1213) to report the death.
• Order multiple certified copies of the death certificate, including versions with and without cause of death, for various purposes.
• Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to cancel the deceased’s driver’s license.
• Send copies of the death certificate via registered mail with return receipt requested to banks, insurance companies, credit card companies, mortgage lenders, and other institutions where the deceased had accounts, remembering to remove the deceased’s name from joint accounts.
• Request the deceased’s credit report to confirm if there are still open accounts, outstanding debts, or unusual collection activities.
Consolidate the authority to manage the deceased’s personal information with a trusted individual to prevent resentful family members from engaging in identity theft.
If receiving collection notices, unfamiliar bills, or noticing suspicious activity on the credit report, report immediately to the local law enforcement.
In addition to preventing identity theft, the state government also reminds the public to watch out for improper practices in the funeral service market.
According to Federal Funeral Rule and New York State laws, funeral homes must provide price information and maintain updated price lists. Consumers have the right to request detailed fee lists, compare different service contents, and refuse unnecessary add-ons.
Officials suggest that if encountering providers who refuse to answer questions, provide price details, or pressure for immediate signing and payment, family members should be vigilant. At the same time, consumers can verify whether the funeral industry personnel hold valid licenses issued by the State of New York.