In the days after a death, families often feel pulled in two directions at once. One part of you is trying to grieve, to breathe, to get through the next conversation. Another part is suddenly responsible for paperwork that seems to multiply overnight. In that busy, vulnerable window, scammers sometimes take advantage of the fact that a person’s accounts and credit file may not yet reflect the death. This is where post-mortem identity theft—often called “ghosting” identity theft—shows up: new credit lines opened in the deceased person’s name, a redirected mailing address, or even a fraudulent tax return filed before the estate is settled.
This guide is meant to be steady and practical. If you’re a spouse, partner, adult child, or executor, you will learn how families typically combine a deceased alert with the steps people commonly refer to as a deceased credit freeze, how to gather documentation, and how to lock down the everyday “entry points” scammers rely on—mail, phones, online accounts, and credit. You do not have to do everything in a single day. The goal is to move in a clear order so you get meaningful protection quickly, then tighten the details as you go.
Why “Ghosting” Happens in the First Weeks After Death
Credit systems and government databases do get updated, but they are not instant. The Social Security Administration explains that funeral homes generally report a death, and families typically do not need to report it themselves unless a funeral home is not involved or the death was not reported for some reason. When that reporting and downstream updates take time, criminals may try to open accounts, change addresses, or exploit information pulled from public notices and mail. The risk is not that “everyone is targeting you,” but that a small number of bad actors look for easy openings during moments when families are busy and distracted.
The good news is that you can close most of those openings with a few decisive steps, especially if you have the legal authority to act. In many cases, a well-documented letter to a credit bureau, plus mail control through the Postal Service, will prevent the majority of “new account” problems before they start.
Deceased Alert vs. “Deceased Credit Freeze”
Families often search for freeze credit after death because the concept is intuitive: if nobody can access the credit file, nobody can open new accounts. The FTC’s overview of credit freezes and fraud alerts explains how a credit freeze can make it harder for identity thieves to open new credit in someone’s name. But here is the nuance: a standard consumer credit freeze is designed for living consumers who can authenticate themselves online or by phone. After death, what most families actually do is request that the credit file be clearly marked as deceased and monitored for unusual activity.
That “deceased” notation is sometimes described as a “deceased — do not issue credit” flag, which signals to lenders that the file owner is not applying for credit. One consumer guidance summary notes that reporting a death can place a “deceased — do not issue credit” type of flag on the credit report, making it much harder for thieves to open new accounts. See the discussion in Bankrate. The IRS also advises families dealing with deceased-person identity theft to send credit bureaus a death certificate and have them place a deceased alert on the credit reports, then watch for unusual activity. See the IRS guidance in its Identity theft guide for individuals.
So, if you are using the phrase deceased credit freeze, think of it as a two-part approach: (1) get the credit file marked clearly as deceased (a “do not issue credit” style flag or deceased alert), and (2) reduce the chances of any successful application by controlling mail, phones, and online access. In practice, that combination is what protects the estate from fraud.
What Documentation You’ll Need (Executor, Spouse, or Court Authority)
Most institutions will not take action based on a phone call alone, especially when credit reporting is involved. You may need several certified copies of the death certificate over time. In addition, you will typically need proof that you have authority to act for the person who died.
- Certified death certificate (often several copies)
- Proof of authority (letters testamentary, court order, or administrator appointment, depending on your state and situation)
- Your government-issued ID and your current mailing address
- Key identifying details for the deceased (legal name, Social Security number, date of birth, date of death, last known address)
If you need to request a credit report for a deceased person, AnnualCreditReport.com (the centralized source authorized for free credit reports) describes the information to send and notes that the spouse or executor can request the report by mail, including a copy of the death certificate or letters testamentary and documents showing the executor’s authority.
The Practical Order of Operations: Lock Down the “Four Gateways”
When families ask how to prevent identity theft deceased situations, the most effective answers are rarely exotic. They are the basics, done in the right order, with good documentation. Think of four gateways that criminals exploit: mail, phones, online accounts, and credit files. Close these, and most “ghosting” attempts fail.
Gateway One: Mail and Address Control
Mail is still the easiest path into a financial life because it delivers replacement cards, tax documents, bank notices, and account access codes. The U.S. Postal Service explains how to stop or forward mail for the deceased and notes that if you need to forward mail to a different address, you must go to a Post Office location and provide documented proof that you are the appointed executor or administrator authorized to manage the deceased’s mail. The USPS also points families to a Deceased Do Not Contact List for reducing advertising mail.
If you are the executor, consider mail control an early priority, right alongside securing valuables in the home. Even if you are not ready for full forwarding, taking control of the mailbox (and limiting who has access) is a meaningful step toward protecting the Social Security number and preventing account takeovers.
Gateway Two: Phones, Email, and Two-Factor Codes
Many families focus on credit first, but phone numbers and email accounts often matter just as much. If a scammer can gain access to the deceased person’s email, they can reset passwords at banks, credit cards, retail accounts, and even utility accounts—sometimes without needing to open “new credit” at all. If you have lawful access, secure the primary email account early by changing the password, enabling multi-factor authentication on your own device, and checking for mailbox rules that forward messages out of the account.
With mobile phones, your goal is to prevent a bad actor from transferring the phone number (or receiving verification codes). If you are not sure what steps are permitted by the carrier, ask what documentation they require to secure or close service. This is not just a billing issue; it is often part of how families protect estate from fraud when so many financial logins are tied to a phone number.
Gateway Three: Financial Accounts and Beneficiary Assets
Bank accounts, investment accounts, and credit cards should be handled in a way that matches your legal role and your state’s probate rules. Notify institutions of the death, ask what happens to automatic payments, and request that accounts be flagged appropriately. If there are joint accounts, confirm the institution’s policy before moving money, and consider speaking with an estate attorney if there is any uncertainty about authority, creditor rights, or probate timing.
Also watch for “quiet” fraud: address changes on statements, new debit cards sent to an unfamiliar address, or small test charges. These issues are easier to resolve when you catch them early and have a clean record of who you spoke to, when, and what documents you provided.
Gateway Four: The Credit File Itself (Deceased Alert, Reports, and Disputes)
This is where families most often use the phrase freeze credit after death. Practically, the first move is to ensure the credit file is marked as deceased as quickly as possible, then pull the credit reports and look for anything that does not belong.
TransUnion’s guidance on reporting a death to TransUnion explains that you can contact a nationwide credit reporting agency with a letter and a copy of the death certificate, including the deceased person’s identifying information, and that the agency can notify the other two bureaus. It also explains how spouses or executors can request a copy of the deceased person’s credit report and what supporting documentation may be required.
To request the credit reports and ensure you have the right mailing addresses for each bureau, AnnualCreditReport.com lists mailing instructions for special situations (including deceased persons) and provides bureau mailing addresses for these requests.
What to Do If You Find Fraud
If you see accounts the person did not open, hard inquiries that make no sense, or debt collection letters for unfamiliar balances, treat it as identity theft and respond with documentation. Your objective is to create a paper trail that creditors and bureaus must respect.
Start with an FTC identity theft report. The FTC directs victims to IdentityTheft.gov, which provides step-by-step guidance and generates an Identity Theft Report you can use when disputing fraudulent accounts. Keep copies of everything: letters sent, return receipts, phone call logs, and the documents you provided.
From there, dispute fraudulent items with the credit bureaus and notify the lenders involved. TransUnion specifically notes that if you suspect fraud on a deceased person’s credit report, you should notify lenders and report the fraud to the FTC and obtain an Identity Theft Report. See the discussion under fraud reporting in TransUnion’s guidance.
Tax Returns and “Secure SSN After Death” Concerns
One of the more upsetting forms of ghosting is a fraudulent tax return filed using the deceased person’s Social Security number. If that happens, it can delay the estate’s tax work and create confusion at an already difficult time.
The IRS addresses this directly. In its identity theft guide, the IRS includes a section on deceased person identity theft and recommends filing the deceased person’s final tax return when due, sending credit bureaus a death certificate to place a deceased alert, watching reports for unusual activity, and avoiding putting too much personal information in an obituary.
If the IRS instructs you to file an identity theft affidavit, you may be directed to Form 14039. The IRS maintains the form page at Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit). If you are uncertain whether to file it, follow the IRS instructions you receive by mail and consider consulting a tax professional who works with estates.
A Careful Word About Obituaries and Public Details
Families deserve to honor a life publicly, and many communities rely on obituaries to show support. At the same time, you can reduce the chances of post-mortem identity theft by limiting details that could help someone impersonate the deceased. The IRS explicitly cautions families to avoid putting too much information in an obituary that identity thieves could use. See the IRS note in its identity theft guide. A simple rule of thumb is to share what is meaningful and omit what is uniquely identifying (full birth date, mother’s maiden name, exact addresses, and similar data).
While You’re Securing Accounts, You’re Also Making Memorial Decisions
It can feel strange to talk about memorialization in the middle of a fraud-prevention checklist, but in real life these tasks happen side by side. A family might be freezing down mail and also deciding whether the ashes will be kept at home, scattered later, or placed in a cemetery. In fact, cremation is now the most common choice in the U.S. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate was projected at 63.4% for 2025. The Cremation Association of North America reports a U.S. cremation rate of 61.8% in 2024, with continued growth projected.
If your family is choosing cremation, you may also be considering what to do with ashes and how to create something that feels steady for the months ahead. Some families start with a “home base” urn and later plan scattering or interment when travel is possible. If you are looking at cremation urns and want a broad starting point, Funeral.com’s collection of cremation urns for ashes is designed to cover a wide range of materials and styles without pushing you into a single “right” answer.
When families are sharing ashes among siblings or keeping a portion close, small cremation urns and keepsake urns often make the plan easier. You can see options in small cremation urns for ashes and keepsake urns. And if you want a plain-English guide before you shop, Funeral.com’s article on how to choose a cremation urn walks through the decision in a way that tends to reduce second-guessing.
For many people, cremation jewelry becomes a bridge between grief and daily life—especially when the main urn will be placed somewhere else later. Funeral.com’s cremation jewelry collection includes pieces designed to hold a small portion of ashes, and you can browse cremation necklaces if a necklace feels like the right form. If you want a practical primer first, Cremation Jewelry 101 explains how these pieces work and what to expect when filling them.
And when a beloved pet has died, families often want memorial choices that feel specific to that bond. Funeral.com’s pet urns and pet urns for ashes include styles from simple to highly personalized, while pet figurine cremation urns can feel especially fitting when you want the memorial to reflect their presence. For sharing among family members, pet keepsake cremation urns are designed for small portions.
Finally, many families need to anchor the financial side of planning as well. If you are asking how much does cremation cost, Funeral.com’s guide on how much cremation costs breaks down typical fees and what to ask so you can compare options clearly. If your plans involve the ocean or a lake, Funeral.com’s water burial guide explains how families plan the moment and why the terminology matters.
A Simple Executor Fraud Checklist (Print or Share)
If you want one short checklist to guide the next few days, this is the core. It is not about doing everything perfectly; it is about doing the most protective steps first.
- Confirm the death is reported to Social Security; if needed, use the guidance on what to do when someone dies.
- Secure mail and address control using the USPS process for managing mail for the deceased.
- Lock down email and phone access to prevent password resets and verification-code takeovers.
- Notify banks and major financial institutions of the death and ask what documentation they require.
- Send a documented death notice to a credit bureau and request the file be marked as deceased; see TransUnion’s guidance.
- Request the deceased person’s credit reports by mail if you are the spouse or executor, using AnnualCreditReport.com special situation instructions.
- Review reports for unfamiliar accounts or inquiries; dispute quickly if anything looks wrong.
- If fraud is present, file an FTC identity theft report through IdentityTheft.gov and keep records.
- If tax issues arise, follow IRS guidance on deceased identity theft in the IRS identity theft guide.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, start with mail control and the credit “deceased” flag. Those two steps alone reduce the easiest opportunities for thieves. Then work through phones, email, banks, and tax items as your energy allows. When in doubt—especially if family authority is unclear—pause and consult an estate attorney. A short, careful conversation can prevent expensive mistakes later.
