Notifying the FTC when someone dies
Family member is responsible for notifying the FTC
OverviewWhen someone dies
Identity Theft Reporting (IdentityTheft.gov)
Phone1-877-438-4338
WebsiteLearn about benefits→
HoursIdentityTheft.gov reporting available online anytime; phone assistance Monday through Friday
IdentityTheft.gov (Online Reporting)
Phone1-877-438-4338
Timeline
Credit bureau deceased-notice processing time varies by bureau. Registering the deceased on the DMAchoice Deceased Do Not Contact List (DMAchoice.org) places the name on the Association of National Advertisers mail and email opt-out lists permanently.
WebsiteLearn more →
HoursIdentityTheft.gov reporting available online anytime; phone assistance Monday through Friday
Verified Jul 2026
When someone dies, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) must be notified. The family member is responsible for notifying the FTC.
Notification deadline: As soon as possible after death to minimize identity theft risk.
Steps to take
Steps for notifying the FTC and applying for survivor benefits:
1
Place a deceased notice (deceased alert) with the credit bureaus:
- •Notify each of the three nationwide credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
- •Send a certified copy of the death certificate by certified mail with return receipt requested
- •Current mailing addresses and online submission options are listed on each bureau's website
- •Include: the deceased's full name, Social Security number, date of birth, most recent address, and your proof of authority (letters testamentary or letters of administration, unless you are the surviving spouse)
2
Notify the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 if the funeral home has not already reported the death. SSA maintains a Death Master File shared with financial institutions.
3
Report any known identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov:
- •Go to IdentityTheft.gov and file a report on behalf of the deceased
- •The system generates an Identity Theft Report, pre-filled letters for creditors, and a recovery checklist
- •Send the pre-filled dispute letters to creditors and credit bureaus via certified mail
4
Report tax identity theft to the IRS if applicable:
- •File IRS Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) on behalf of the deceased (Form 14039 Rev. 2-2026)
- •A surviving spouse, a court-appointed or certified personal representative, or (if none has been appointed) another person acting for the estate may file; complete Section F identifying your relationship
- •Call the IRS at 1-800-908-4490 for assistance
5
Monitor the deceased's credit reports and financial accounts for unauthorized activity. Send all correspondence via certified mail with return receipt requested to document delivery.
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate (send copies, never originals)
- Deceased's full legal name, Social Security number, and date of birth
- Your government-issued photo ID
- Letters testamentary or letters of administration (if not the surviving spouse)
- IRS Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) if tax fraud is suspected
Timeline
Credit bureau deceased-notice processing time varies by bureau. Registering the deceased on the DMAchoice Deceased Do Not Contact List (DMAchoice.org) places the name on the Association of National Advertisers mail and email opt-out lists permanently.
Survivor benefits
Identity Theft Recovery Plan
IdentityTheft.gov generates a personalized recovery plan when identity theft of a deceased person is reported. The system creates an official Identity Theft Report (a legal document), pre-filled sample letters for creditors and credit bureaus, and a step-by-step checklist. The FTC collects reports to inform law enforcement actions but does not resolve individual cases directly.
Eligibility: Family member, executor, or legal representative of a deceased identity theft victim
How to apply: File a report at IdentityTheft.gov; indicate you are filing on behalf of a deceased person
Learn more →Credit Bureau Deceased Notice
Placing a deceased notice (also called a deceased alert) with the credit bureaus flags the credit file so lenders are warned not to approve new credit applications. Notify each of the three nationwide credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) by sending a certified copy of the death certificate; current mailing addresses and online submission options are listed on each bureau's website.
Eligibility: Surviving spouse, executor, or administrator of the estate
How to apply: Send a certified copy of the death certificate, the deceased's full name, SSN, date of birth, and your documentation of authority to each credit bureau by certified mail
Learn more →Frequently asked questions
Send a certified copy of the death certificate to each of the three nationwide credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to place a deceased notice on the credit file. Also notify the Social Security Administration and monitor the deceased's financial accounts for unauthorized activity. Report any known identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov.
Notify each of the three nationwide credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to place a deceased notice on the credit file. Send a certified copy of the death certificate to each by certified mail with return receipt requested to document delivery. The one-call rule that requires a bureau to notify the other two applies to fraud alerts for living consumers, not to deceased notices.
IdentityTheft.gov is the federal government's official one-stop resource for reporting and recovering from identity theft. It generates a personalized recovery plan, an Identity Theft Report (a legal document), and pre-filled letters for creditors and credit bureaus. You can file a report on behalf of a deceased person.
Ghosting is the practice of using a deceased person's identity to open new accounts, file tax returns, or commit other fraud. It often targets the window immediately after death before all records are updated. Placing a deceased alert with the credit bureaus and notifying the SSA helps prevent ghosting.
File IRS Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) on behalf of the deceased. A surviving spouse, a court-appointed or certified personal representative, or — if no representative has been appointed — another person acting for the estate may file; complete Section F to identify your relationship and attach a copy of any court appointment certificate. Call the IRS at 1-800-908-4490 for assistance.
Register the deceased on the Deceased Do Not Contact List at DMAchoice.org, operated by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA). Registering places the person's name on the ANA mail and email opt-out lists permanently. The separate $6 general DMAchoice marketer opt-out, which lasts 10 years, is not required for the Deceased Do Not Contact List.
A deceased alert serves a similar purpose to a credit freeze — it flags the file so lenders know the person is deceased and should not approve new credit. Contact the credit bureaus to place the deceased alert using a certified copy of the death certificate.
Send a certified copy (not the original) of the death certificate, the deceased's full legal name, Social Security number, date of birth, and most recent address. If you are not the surviving spouse, include your government-issued photo ID and court documents showing your appointment as executor or administrator.
Processing time for a deceased notice varies by credit bureau. Notify each of the three bureaus directly rather than relying on one to share the notice, and monitor the deceased's credit reports afterward to confirm the notice was applied.
After completing the notification process, eligible survivors can apply for 2 benefits through the FTC. Each benefit has its own eligibility requirements and application process.
Keep copies of all documents submitted to the FTC. Original documents submitted for verification are typically returned after processing.
Identity Theft Reporting (IdentityTheft.gov)
Phone1-877-438-4338
WebsiteLearn about benefits→
HoursIdentityTheft.gov reporting available online anytime; phone assistance Monday through Friday
IdentityTheft.gov (Online Reporting)
Phone1-877-438-4338
Timeline
Credit bureau deceased-notice processing time varies by bureau. Registering the deceased on the DMAchoice Deceased Do Not Contact List (DMAchoice.org) places the name on the Association of National Advertisers mail and email opt-out lists permanently.
WebsiteLearn more →
HoursIdentityTheft.gov reporting available online anytime; phone assistance Monday through Friday
Verified Jul 2026