Pseudocide—faking your death—is not technically illegal. However, to fake your death, you’d most likely need to break several laws.
“Pseudocide isn’t inherently a crime … but it involves so many built-in frauds that it’s virtually impossible to fake your drowning legally. Frankly, you’ll only be drowning in fraud,” James Quiggle, the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud’s director of communications, told Live Science in 2012.
Why go to the trouble of faking your death? People may commit pseudocide so they can collect life insurance money, evade outstanding arrest warrants, get out of paying off school, car, or home loans, or start over with a new identity, leaving behind their problems with relationships or work.
Although no federal or state statutes ban pseudocide, someone who fakes their death may commit crimes such as conspiracy, fraudulently collecting life insurance money, evading taxes.
I have a spouse file a false police report, forge a death certificate or delinquency on loan payments.
And although someone can technically pull off pseudocide without breaking the law, they won’t be able to legally establish a new identity in the United States, and international travel will be restricted.
Government agencies like the Social Security Administration and the DMV, banks, and mortgage lenders require valid proof of your identity. If you’re using a false identity, you’re committing fraud.
Author Elizabeth Greenwood explores pseudocide and the disappearance industry in her upcoming book Playing Dead: A Journey Through the World of Death Fraud. Greenwood describes both sides of the equation, including consultants who can help people “disappear,” as well as private detectives who investigate people suspected of faking their deaths to make false claims.
It seems that death and taxes have more in common than a simple certainty—there’s also plenty of money involved in both.
I want to start a new life somewhere away from my family. I want to appear dead to them to live my own life without feeling trapped all the time. How do I do this?
You cannot fake your death or make them think you are dead; it is illegal. However, you can “go missing”: unless you have a legal obligation to someone (financial contract, legal custody, etc.), you are under no legal obligation to say goodbye or tell where you are going.
If they file a missing person’s report, if you are contacted by the police or find out the police are looking for you, you must report in and tell the police you are fine — then the cops will close your file.
They cannot say to the complainant where they found you. You do not have to go to your old police station, where the complaint was filed: you can go to any police station or report in through a lawyer.
What if I want to start a new life without family or friends knowing?
Legally change your name and put it on a new identity card. Change your cell number, email, workplace, and hangouts. You’ll also need to move well away from them. Get enough money not to ask your family because you can’t use your credit history.
I have my deceased sister’s social security card, driver’s license, and old id card. Can I use that to start my new identity after shutting down everything related to my old one?
No, you cannot. The social security number/card is attached to a certificate of death. Once a death certificate is officially filed with your state or province, the SSN/SIN number is essentially invalid. Your passport will also be automatically be canceled, and you will need a “second” passport.
Will the courts allow a name change to obtain employment due to a criminal record? There are no open or pending cases, I need a job, and nobody will give me a chance.
If the court grants your petition, the judge signs the order approving your new name, and the clerk enters it into the public record. A name change will not erase your criminal record; the clerk will submit the name change information to local and national law enforcement agencies. If the court denies your petition, you have the right to file an appeal, to which you must bring additional evidence, or corrections of evidence and testimony, for a different judge to consider.
What if a prospective employer asks to see my credentials?
In advance of applying for jobs, you have two options if you create an identity on your own: (1) have your credentials transferred to your new name, or (2) abandon your credentials, such as your driver license.
If your credentials are as simple as education, you can go to your alma mater with your name change certificate and ask for your name to be changed on your records. You will need to establish a new identity and acquire new travel documents.
If it is a professional organization, they have a legal obligation to publish your former names, unless you can have an authority (law enforcement, District/Crown Attorney) verify that doing so will endanger you. The US.DOJ. or the RCMP WitSec has the means and authority to create new credentials for federal witnesses.
Will I be breaking the law by faking my death?
Pseudocide—faking your death—is not technically illegal. However, to fake your death, you’d most likely need to break several laws unless you have the Government connections and contacts to make it happen. At Amicus International, we can make it happen Legally. You can have the safety and security of anonymous living.
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