Protecting a Loved One's Identity After Death

It’s an uncomfortable reality: the period after a death is when a person’s identity is most vulnerable to theft. Obituaries publish names, dates of birth, family relationships, and sometimes addresses. Homes sit empty. Accounts stay open for months. And the person whose identity it is can no longer notice that something is wrong.

Fraudsters know this. The practice even has a name — “ghosting.” Most families never think about it until something goes wrong.

The good news is that a handful of straightforward steps close off nearly all of the risk.

Why the Risk Is Real

Obituaries are public and detailed. A typical obituary contains the full name, age or date of birth, city, employment history, and the names of a spouse, children, and parents. That’s a substantial portion of what’s needed to answer security questions or open credit.

Accounts stay open. Between the death and the completion of estate administration, months can pass. Credit cards, bank accounts, and lines of credit may remain technically active.

Nobody’s monitoring. No one is reviewing statements or watching for unusual activity on the deceased’s file.

Institutions don’t automatically know. There’s no central system that notifies every bank, lender, and government agency when someone dies. Until you tell them, their records show a living customer.

Notify the Credit Bureaus First

This is the single most effective step, and it’s free.

Canada has two credit bureaus: Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada. Notify both. They don’t share information, and a flag with one doesn’t protect against the other.

Ask each to place a deceased notification on the file. This flags the credit file so that any application for new credit in that name is blocked or triggers scrutiny.

What they’ll typically require:

• A certified copy of the death certificate

• Proof that you’re the executor or estate representative

• The deceased’s full name, date of birth, SIN, and last address

• Your own identification

Also request a copy of the credit report. This serves two purposes: it reveals every credit account, loan, and card on file — which is invaluable for building your estate inventory — and it lets you check for accounts the deceased never opened.

Contact details are available at equifax.ca and transunion.ca.

Notify Government Agencies

Service Canada — Report the death to stop CPP and Old Age Security payments and to apply for the CPP Death Benefit. Continuing to receive payments after death creates an overpayment the estate must repay, so this is both a fraud measure and a practical one.

Canada Revenue Agency — Notify the CRA and register yourself as the legal representative. This protects against fraudulent tax filings and gives you access to the records you need.

BC Services Card / MSP — Cancel through the Province of BC.

Passport — Return the passport to Passport Canada for cancellation. An uncancelled passport is a genuinely valuable document to a fraudster.

Driver’s licence — Cancel through ICBC.

Provincial benefit programs — Any income assistance, disability, or subsidy programs the deceased received.

Cancel Identification Documents

Don’t simply file the deceased’s ID away in a drawer. Cancel or return:

• Passport

• Driver’s licence

• BC Services Card

• Nexus or trusted traveller cards

• Professional licences and certifications

• Firearms licence, if applicable

Where documents can’t be returned, destroy them securely once you’re confident they’re no longer needed for estate purposes.

Secure Financial Accounts

Notify every financial institution. Banks, credit unions, investment firms, and insurers all need to know. Ask them to flag the account as belonging to a deceased customer.

Close credit cards. Contact each issuer directly. Don’t just stop using the card — an open account is an open door. Note that closing a joint card may affect the surviving cardholder’s credit, so check before acting.

Cancel lines of credit and overdraft protection.

Review recent activity on every account for transactions that don’t look right.

Handle the Obituary Thoughtfully

You don’t need to sacrifice a meaningful tribute for security, but a few small choices reduce exposure:

Consider omitting the full date of birth. Age alone is usually sufficient.

Avoid the full home address. Naming the city is enough.

Skip the mother’s maiden name. It’s a classic security question answer.

Be cautious about announcing the funeral time publicly if the home will be empty. Some families arrange for someone to stay at the house during the service.

Consider what you share on social media. The same details apply.

Secure the Property

If the deceased’s home is unoccupied:

• Redirect the mail promptly — see our guide to redirecting mail after a death

• Remove valuables, documents, and identification

• Ensure locks are secure and consider changing them if keys are unaccounted for

• Notify the home insurer that the property is vacant, as coverage terms often change

• Arrange for someone to check on the property regularly

• Maintain the appearance of occupancy where possible — lights on timers, snow cleared, lawn maintained

Watch for Warning Signs

Even after you’ve taken these steps, keep an eye out for:

• Credit card statements or bills for accounts you don’t recognise

• Collection notices for unfamiliar debts

• Notification of credit applications in the deceased’s name

• Tax slips for income the deceased didn’t earn

• CRA correspondence about a return you didn’t file

If something looks wrong, report it immediately to the institution involved, to both credit bureaus, and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501). Consider filing a police report as well.

Watch for Scams Aimed at You

Grieving families are targeted directly, not just through the deceased’s identity. Be alert for:

Fake debt collection. Someone calls claiming the deceased owed money and demands immediate payment. Legitimate creditors will provide documentation and deal with the estate formally. Never pay on the basis of a phone call.

Bogus “unclaimed” funds. Someone claims to have located money owed to the estate but needs a fee to release it. Legitimate unclaimed property searches are free — see our guide to finding unclaimed assets in Canada.

Unordered goods. A delivery arrives claiming the deceased ordered and prepaid for something, with a balance owing.

Charity pressure. Solicitations referencing the death and pushing for immediate donations.

“Insurance” that doesn’t exist. Someone claiming a policy exists but requiring payment of arrears to release the benefit.

Take your time. Verify independently. Nothing legitimate requires an immediate payment over the phone.

A Short Checklist

In the first month:

• Notify Equifax and TransUnion; request credit reports

• Notify Service Canada and the CRA

• Redirect the mail

• Notify all financial institutions

• Cancel credit cards and lines of credit

• Return or cancel the passport and driver’s licence

• Secure the property

• Review the obituary for sensitive details

We Provide the Foundation

At Alternatives Funeral & Cremation Services, we register the death and order the certified death certificates that every one of these notifications requires. We can also help you think through what to include in an obituary — balancing a meaningful tribute against unnecessary exposure.

If you’re an executor and this list feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. Most families have never done any of it before.

Learn more at myalternatives.ca

This article provides general information for executors in Canada. For advice about a specific situation, consult a qualified professional.