The Social Security Fraud You Need to Know About — and What It Means for Your Family

A 69-year-old man in Arizona was just arrested for stealing the identity of someone who died in 1965 — when they were 17 years old — and collecting Social Security benefits under that name for more than a decade. The total take: $114,285.

The case is shocking in its audacity. But here's what matters for families: it's a reminder that Social Security numbers don't automatically disappear when someone dies. And that creates vulnerability you need to know about.

How this actually happened

According to a recent SSA Office of Inspector General press release, Richard Ralston applied for Social Security retirement benefits in 2011 using the name, birthdate, and Social Security number of someone who had been dead for 46 years. He collected monthly checks from 2011 until his recent arrest — more than 13 years.

The question most people ask: how did this go undetected for so long?

The truth is, Social Security's systems are massive and old. The agency processes millions of applications and payments. Cross-checking every claim against death records — especially older ones — isn't foolproof. And in this case, someone born in 1948 applying for retirement benefits in 2011 wouldn't raise immediate red flags. The timeline fits.

What this means for your family

If your parent has passed away, their Social Security number doesn't vanish. It sits in databases. And while most of those databases are secure, the risk isn't zero.

Here's what can happen if someone gets hold of a deceased person's information:

• Fraudulent Social Security benefit claims (like this case)
• Tax refund fraud — filing a return under a deceased person's name
• Credit accounts opened in their name
• Medical identity theft, which can corrupt health records

The bigger risk comes if you're handling an estate and documents with Social Security numbers are lying around — old tax returns, benefit statements, medical paperwork. That's low-hanging fruit for someone looking to commit fraud.

What you should actually do

Report the death to Social Security immediately. If a parent dies, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. If they were receiving benefits, those need to stop. The funeral home often reports the death, but don't assume — follow up yourself.

Request a copy of the death certificate with the Social Security number redacted. You'll need certified copies for banks, insurance, and other institutions. But for routine situations, use versions without the full Social Security number visible.

Don't toss documents in the trash. Shred anything with a Social Security number on it. If you're cleaning out a parent's home and find boxes of old tax returns or benefit letters, shred them or use a document destruction service.

Monitor for weird activity. If you're the executor or have access to accounts, keep an eye out for anything unusual in the months after a death — unexpected credit inquiries, tax notices, or benefit payments that shouldn't be happening.

Don't share the Social Security number unless absolutely necessary. Even with institutions that legitimately need it, ask if there's an alternative identifier they can use.

The takeaway

This isn't about panicking. The odds that someone will steal your deceased parent's identity are low. But they're not zero — and a little vigilance on the front end can prevent a bureaucratic nightmare later.

Fraudsters count on families being too overwhelmed or distracted during grief to lock things down. Don't give them the opening.