Sadly, there are people who look for recent deaths in the obituaries and then try to steal identities. They do so by opening credit card accounts in that person’s name, applying for loans, and paying for services in their name.
Running a credit report can help you find accounts that you might not have known your family member had. You should also freeze all accounts to prevent someone from opening new accounts, thereby preventing identity theft.
Here is the process:
- Sign up for Peacefully for any credit report questions and expert guidance
- Collect the following documents:
- The completed form
- A copy of the death certificate
- A copy of the deceased’s ID.
- A copy of your ID
- If you are not the spouse, include a will/executor agreement or Power of Attorney documentation showing you are the executor
- Send those documents to ALL THREE credit reporting companies by mail. Here are the addresses:
Experian
Allen, TX 75013
P.O. Box 2002
Equifax
P.O. Box 105139
Atlanta, GA 30348-5139
TransUnion
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016
