What is Impersonation of the Deceased Fraud?

Impersonation of the deceased fraud, also known as ghosting, is a type of identity theft that occurs when someone uses the personal information of a deceased person to commit fraud. This can include opening new credit accounts, applying for loans, or making other financial transactions in the deceased person’s name. Sometimes, the identity thief may even try to assume the deceased person’s identity by obtaining a new driver’s license or passport in their name.

Here are some more recent statistics related to Impersonation of the Deceased Fraud:-

  • Nearly 2.5 million dead people are victims of identity theft every year, according to a data analysis by fraud prevention firm ID Analytics. 
  • Fraudsters intentionally use the identities of the deceased at the rate of more than 2,000 per day.
  • The number of consumer identity theft complaints rose 3.3%, to just over 1.43 million.
  • In 2022, there were over 1.1 million reports of identity theft received through the FTC’s IdentityTheft.gov website.
  • There is an identity theft case Every 22 seconds.
  • ID theft comprised about 24% of the 5,883,409 reports of fraud, identity theft, and other complaints.

Common Types of Impersonation of the Deceased Fraud

  • Obtaining credit cards or loans in the deceased person’s name
  • Using the deceased person’s identity to apply for government benefits
  • Filing a tax return in the deceased person’s name to obtain a refund
  • Selling the deceased person’s personal information on the dark web

Solutions for Impersonation of the Deceased Fraud

Preventing impersonation of the deceased fraud requires a multi-faceted approach. One solution is to secure the deceased person’s personal information by shredding important documents that contain their personal information. Additionally, family members should notify financial institutions, credit bureaus, and government agencies of the death to prevent fraudulent activities.

Fraud.net Helps You Mitigate Identity Theft

Fraud.net offers a comprehensive fraud prevention solution that includes impersonation of the deceased fraud detection capabilities. Their AI-powered platform can analyze large amounts of data in real-time to detect and prevent fraudulent activities, including impersonation of the deceased fraud.

Fraud.net’s Collective Intelligence Network enables them to reinforce identity verification processes, cross-referencing identity elements with databases of deceased individuals. This proactive measure enhances fraud prevention by preventing the misuse of identities linked to the deceased, reflecting their commitment to robust security and compliance. 

To learn more about Fraud.net’s impersonation of the deceased fraud prevention solution, you can book a demo on our website.