Identity Theft and Obituaries

Obituaries serve as a heartfelt tribute to a deceased loved one. However, there has been a rise in identity theft due to how much detail some obituaries provide to the public. Scammers can then use these stolen identities to create false documents, open bank accounts, borrow money, or worse – all from the information we voluntarily share.  
 
Let’s look at this fake obituary example for the beloved cartoon character Homer Simpson. 

“It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Homer Simpson (born on May 12th, 1956), age 99, who passed away on Wednesday May 18th, 2055 at Springfield Hospital. Homer was the son of Mona and Abraham Simpson and was a devoted husband to wife Marge Simpson. He leaves behind his three children, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie, and his beloved pet dog Santa’s Little Helper. Homer will be greatly missed by his work family at the Nuclear Power Plant, where he worked for decades as a Nuclear Safety Inspector. He will also be missed by his dear friends at both Krusty Burger, and Moe’s where he loved to share a cold Duff beer, and of course a doughnut. A memorial will be held at Springfield Funeral Home on May 28th.”  

This example provides all the information needed to steal one’s identity. Think about the things that you use in everyday life to verify your accounts or items that you often use as your security questions. It’s often your birth date, your parent's or children’s names, work history details, pet details, and where you live…. And this obituary just shared it all with the public!! While the information provided may not be enough to fully steal one’s identity, it is usually enough to provide access to accounts or open the doors to finding out further details on the world wide web.  

Obituary information has also been used to commit other frauds such as: 

• Grandparent scams 

• Employment scams 

• Income/benefits fraud  

• Bank fraud  

Best practice when it comes to writing an obituary is to simply keep the details minimal. You can still create a meaningful and heartfelt message without providing the crucial information that scammers are looking for. It is also best practice to notify the CRA, Service Canada, and other financial institutions immediately when a death occurs so that there is a flag on the accounts and social insurance number.  Remember to be careful with what information you willingly share – you never know who may be accessing it!  

This blog is not intended to be legal advice and should not be relied on as such. If you require legal advice, please contact a legal professional concerning your particular circumstances.