Nevada Identity Theft

The Social Security Administration (www.ssa.gov) does not reappoint a Social Security number to someone else after the original owner's death. The SSA estimates that there are enough new number combinations to last well into the next SEVERAL generations.

You can call the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-438-4338 or TDD at 1-866-653-4261, or online at http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft to report identity theft.

Place a Fraud Alert on Your Credit Report. Freeze Your Credit Report. Order Your Free Credit Reports. Buy Your Credit Reports. Monitor Your Accounts Online. Enroll in Credit Monitoring. Keep Your Social Security Number Safe. Pick Up Your Check Order.

It's called ghosting, and it's both scary and surprising. Ghosting is a form of identity theft. It occurs when someone uses the personal information of a dead person, often for monetary gain. A savvy criminal can take over bank accounts, apply for new credit cards, and even file for fraudulent tax refunds.

What happens to your Social Security number after you die? The Social Security Administration (SSA) maintains a national file of reported deaths for the purpose of paying appropriate benefits.The SSA generally receives reports of death from a family member or a funeral home.

An identity thief's use of a deceased person's Social Security number may create problems for family members.Sometimes delays in reporting can provide time for identity thieves to collect enough personal information to open credit accounts or take other fraudulent actions using the deceased's information.

Limit the amount of personal information you share about the deceased in newspaper and online obituaries. Notify the Social Security Administration of the death. Send the IRS a copy of the death certificate so that the agency can note that the person is deceased.

For joint accounts, remove the deceased's name. Report the death to Social Security by calling 800-772-1213. Contact the department of motor vehicles to cancel the deceased's driver's license, to prevent duplicates from being issued to fraudsters.

Identity thieves can strike even after death. An identity thief's use of a deceased person's Social Security number may create problems for family members.The Social Security Administration (SSA) maintains a national file of reported deaths for the purpose of paying appropriate benefits.