How scammers prey on the digital identities of the deceased
Increasingly complex applications and online services, along with the digitization of many aspects of life, require the use of digital identity. However, it is not clear what happens to a user's "digital profile" after their death. NASK explains these complexities and highlights the risks.
2:38 PM EDT, November 1, 2024
Data of deceased individuals poses a risk of online fraud and poses an additional burden for grieving families. One issue is the so-called ghosting scam. Scammers use this method to exploit information left online after a user's death. Right after the death of a loved one, a grieving family might inadvertently overlook this problem, so it's worth paying significant attention to it.
Scammers collect data about deceased individuals from obituaries, funeral home websites, hospitals, and various internet sites to open accounts, take out loans, or obtain insurance in their name. According to Washington National, approximately 2.5 million deceased Americans experience identity theft annually, NASK points out.
The threat is widespread, and scammers have a somewhat easier task because, on behalf of the deceased, only their closest relatives can practically care for the data, who undoubtedly "can't deal with this" at that moment.
Taking over a deceased person's account can be as destructive as data theft for loans, not only due to potential business values or personal brands associated with the account but also because of its emotional value to the family. Scammers know how to manipulate deceased individuals' social media accounts to create distress among the family. Once they achieve their goal, they often demand a ransom to return the profile.
How to protect the digital identity of the deceased?
More and more online platforms are offering account protections in case of death. Nevertheless, many people neglect these possibilities. By planning the protection of digital assets, we can significantly ease the lives of our loved ones after our passing. Even if we haven't done this before, our loved ones can address this issue despite the lack of clear legal regulations in this area.
On Facebook, a user can independently decide whether the account will be transformed into an "In memoriam" or deleted after death. You can also choose a legacy contact. Both the "In memoriam" status and deletion require documentation of death. Family or a chosen friend must present appropriate documents to the platform, including a scan of the death certificate or obituary. Documents like powers of attorney or wills will be necessary to delete the account.
