Related Consumer Finance Programs - The following sub-directories of companies offer a wide variety of financial programs to assist you with the management of your finances. Consolidate debt with a consolidation loan or use a debt counseling service or mortgage refinance for help with the consolidation of your charge card debt and other monthly payments.

• Debt Consolidation Settlement - If you have too many credit cards and other small debts and are unable to make your payments, this form of debt negotiation may be right for you.
• Debt Management Programs - Do you feel that your credit card bills are stacking up with nowhere for you to turn? Your problem is not unique. Signing up with debt management firm may be the right solution to your debt problems. Review different firms offering these services to determine if this is the correct option for you.
• Personal Loan Companies - Shopping for a personal loan online? Need to consolidate debt, but do not want to put up collateral (such as your home or car) as security? These loans are typically referred to as unsecured or signature loans, because only your signature may be required.

A Special Guide for Seniors and Families

A Warning to Heirs: Identity Thieves Target the Deceased

Criminals scour obituaries and other sources for personal information that can be used to commit fraud

Identity thieves will stop at nothing – not even the death of the intended victim – when it comes to stealing someone's personal information to commit fraud.

Crafty criminals look for personal details about the deceased in obituaries (in the newspaper or online), genealogy Web sites, death certificates and other sources. Armed with personal information – such as a full name, address and date of birth – an ID thief may be able to obtain a new Social Security card, a driver's license, or loans and credit cards, even though the victim is no longer alive.

FDIC Consumer News suggests that families consider the following actions after a loved one dies:

Limit the amount of personal information in obituaries. "It's a good idea to leave out the exact birth date of the deceased. If anything, provide only the birth year," said David Nelson, a fraud specialist in the FDIC's Financial Crimes Section.

Consider omitting a wife's maiden name because many financial institutions use a mother's maiden name as a security password. "If an obituary publicizes a woman's maiden name and lists her children, an identity thief may be able to use that and other information to order credit cards or otherwise go on a spending spree in the childrens' names," Nelson added.

Obtain several copies of the death certificate and then proceed to close bank, brokerage, credit card and other accounts as needed.

Ask your attorney or accountant for advice about closing and reopening accounts in survivors' names.

Also, quickly report the death to the fraud departments of all three major credit bureaus (see If a Crime Has Been Committed), which financial institutions rely on when handling credit applications, and the Social Security Administration (see For More Information).

"It's important to help prevent identity thieves from assuming the deceased person's identity before the estate is settled," explained Nelson. "Otherwise, there may be credit extended to the fraudsters that will need to be resolved before distributions can be made to heirs."

FDIC Consumer News is published by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

FDIC Consumer News is produced quarterly by the FDIC Office of Public Affairs in cooperation with other Divisions and Offices. It is intended to present information in a nontechnical way and is not intended to be a legal interpretation of FDIC or other government regulations and policies. Mention of a product, service or company does not constitute an endorsement.

Find current and past issues of FDIC Consumer News at http://www.fdic.gov/consumernews. Refer to this same index to locate the issues that are specially formatted for being reprinted in any quantity.

To receive an e-mail notice about each new issue of FDIC Consumer News posted on the FDIC Web site, with links to stories, follow instructions posted at www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

Last updated on 11/14/2005

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