SENIOR MOMENT: Scammers follow us to the grave

By BETTY MUNSEY/Columnist

While a family was attending their loved one’s funeral and burial, robbers were ransacking their home in search of valuables. Imagine the grieving family’s shock and devastation when they returned to find their home in shambles and their valuables taken. How could these robbing invaders be so callous and despicable with no regard for those who mourn? Sadly such robberies occur more often than we would like to imagine.
For this reason, it is recommended that complete addresses be omitted from published obituaries by listing only the city, county or area. Identity theft specialists also recommend omitting the dates of death, birth (use only the year) and the middle name of the deceased from published obituaries to protect the deceased from identity theft.  Yes, even death doesn’t stop identify thieves.
In Mesa, Ariz., scammers would read the obituaries and then contact surviving family members, usually spouses, saying that they represented the Area Agency on Aging while offering to help them with legal documents such as their Power of Attorney. Police warned Mesa citizens to beware as legitimate agencies to not make such contacts. The same is true in Southwest Virginia!
Scammers show no remorse when preying on unsuspecting individuals hurting due to the death of a loved one. According to Sid Kirchheimer, a contributor for the NBC “Today Show” and a consumer columnist for AARP, scammers have ways for purchasing a Social Security number for a minimal charge using just the person’s name, address and birth date. From there, they can obtain credit cards and lines of credit in the deceased person’s name. Almost half a million such accounts are opened annually using names of the deceased.
Consumer specialists recommend that the deceased’s closest kin or executor contact the Social Security Administration (1-800-772-1213) as quickly as possible, notifying the agency of the death hopefully preventing future use of that Social Security number. Other businesses where the deceased had credit (all credit cards, banks, and stores) should also be contacted with a request to close the account immediately. AARP recommends sending a notice of the death to the three credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Several weeks after the death, check for unauthorized transactions by getting a free credit report at http://www.annualcreditreport.com.  Ask a trusted friend with competent computer skills to assist with this if needed.
If the above information about defrauding the dead hasn’t raise your anger, consider this. Last week, 130 bronze vases were stolen from two Parkersburg, W.Va., cemeteries. Local authorities believe the thieves hope to sell them as scrap metal to recyclers. Replacement cost for the 130 vases tops $26,000. Modern-day grave robbers are beyond despicable.
A retired Extension agent, Betty Munsey lives and farms in Bland County.