Protecting digital legacies: Navigating posthumous identity theft
As applications and online services become increasingly complex, digital identity is becoming more essential alongside the digitization of many aspects of life. However, it is often unclear what happens to a user's digital profile after death. NASK addresses these complexities and highlights the associated risks.
Data on deceased individuals poses a risk of online fraud and adds an additional burden for grieving families. One issue is the so-called ghosting scam, a method scammers use to exploit information left online after users' death. Right after a loved one's death, a grieving family might inadvertently overlook this problem, so it's important to pay 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, about 2.5 million deceased Americans experience identity theft annually, notes NASK.
This threat is widespread. Scammers find it easier because the responsibility of managing the deceased's data typically falls on their closest relatives, who may not be able to address this in their moment of grief.
Taking over a deceased person's account can be as damaging as data theft for loans, not only because of 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 distress the family, often demanding a ransom to restore the profile.
How to protect the digital identity of the deceased?
More and more online platforms now offer account protections in case of death. Nevertheless, many of us overlook these options. Planning the protection of digital assets 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 these issues despite the lack of clear legal regulations in this area.
On Facebook, a user can decide whether the account will be transformed into an "In Memoriam" status or deleted after death. You can also choose a legacy contact. The "In Memoriam" status and account deletion require documentation of death. Family or a chosen friend must present appropriate documents on the platform, including a scan of the death certificate or obituary. Documents such as powers of attorney or wills will be necessary to delete the account.
