Identity Theft After Death

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published 2 September 2015

I’m going through my late mother-in-law’s belongings, and I see that her bank statements from the 1980s and 1990s often included her Social Security number. Do I need to shred them? --D.D., Washington, D.C.

Guide to Protecting Yourself from 5 Types of Identity Theft

You should shred any documents with information that thieves could use to steal someone’s identity, even after they pass away. “Recently deceased individuals are a prime target for fraudsters,” says Rod Griffin, director of public education for the credit bureau Experian. ID thieves can do the most damage during the period after the person dies but before the credit bureaus, financial institutions and government agencies are notified.

Financial institutions are usually notified about a death from the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File, but that can take a while. It’s better to send copies of the death certificate to creditors, financial institutions, insurers, government agencies and even the credit bureaus as soon as possible, says Adam Levin, chairman of IDT911, which provides ID-theft protection programs for consumers through employers and banks. The fact sheet at www.idtheftcenter.org has a checklist of companies to contact and sample letters to send.

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As the "Ask Kim" columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Lankford receives hundreds of personal finance questions from readers every month. She is the author of Rescue Your Financial Life (McGraw-Hill, 2003), The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance -- and Still Get the Coverage You Need (Kaplan, 2006), Kiplinger's Ask Kim for Money Smart Solutions (Kaplan, 2007) and The Kiplinger/BBB Personal Finance Guide for Military Families. She is frequently featured as a financial expert on television and radio, including NBC's Today Show, CNN, CNBC and National Public Radio.