Deceased loved one's identity misused: what to do

1. Notify the credit bureaus of the death and ask for a 'Deceased — Do Not Issue Credit' flag. Equifax CA 1-800-465-7166 · TransUnion CA 1-800-663-9980 · Equifax US 1-888-548-7878 · Experian 1-888-397-3742 · TransUnion US 1-800-916-8800.

   More detail

   Each bureau wants a death certificate by mail or fax. The flag stops most new credit applications immediately.

2. Send the death certificate to: Service Canada (1-800-277-9914) or SSA (1-800-772-1213); every bank, brokerage, pension, and insurance company; utilities still in their name.

1. Pull the deceased's credit report from each bureau using the executor process — recent applications you don't recognise are the warning signs.

2. Compile a list of every account: 'knew about, legitimate' or 'unfamiliar'. Anything unfamiliar is potential fraud.

3. Close every legitimate account with a signed letter + death certificate — email isn't enough for most institutions. Keep every closure confirmation.

4. Tell the post office to forward or hold the deceased's mail — new fraudulent accounts often send paperwork to the home address.

1. File the final tax return — Canada T1 by April 30 (June 15 if self-employed) of the year following death; US Form 1040 by April 15.

2. Cancel SIN (Service Canada) / driver's licence / health card / passport. Close email and social accounts after extracting anything family wants.

3. Cancel subscriptions and recurring charges — these often keep billing for months after a death.

4. If fraud has already happened, treat each fraudulent account as a separate dispute — death certificate + executor authorization or letters of administration. Most creditors will absorb the loss but you must formally dispute.

   CAFCFBI IC3

1. Continue monitoring the deceased's credit file for 12–24 months. Most ghosting fraud occurs within a year of death; tails extend further.

2. If a family member is suspected of having committed the fraud, talk to an estate lawyer before deciding — the executor's duty to the estate may require formal action.

Related situations