Moving Often Exposes Personal Data, Creating Opportunities for Scammers, Experts Say

Moving — even when intended as a fresh start — can disclose sensitive personal information that scammers use to target victims, cybersecurity experts and researchers say. The process of selling a home, hiring movers and filing address changes creates digital traces that data brokers collect and publish, providing a roadmap for criminals looking for vulnerable targets.

Researchers estimate that more than 70% of cybercrimes trace back to exposed personal data, and some demographic groups are particularly at risk. More than 3 million older Americans move each year for reasons such as downsizing or relocating to assisted-living communities, and relatives and security advocates say scammers have quickly exploited the public signals around such moves to commit fraud.

Scammers collect details from a range of sources that typically become active during a move: real estate listings that show an address, public records for property sales, online posts and social media announcing relocation plans, change-of-address filings with the postal service, and the contact details used to hire moving companies. Data brokers and aggregator sites scrape and combine those fragments, making them searchable and easy to misuse, experts say.

Victims and family members describe how quickly fraud can follow. One account widely cited in coverage involved an older person moved into assisted living who received successive scam attempts after her new address appeared online. Authorities and consumer advocates say that scenario is not rare because the combination of a known address and the profile of an older resident creates an attractive target for impersonation, doorstep fraud, identity theft and other scams.

Security specialists recommend several steps to reduce exposure before, during and after a move. Those steps include limiting address details on public real estate listings, asking real estate agents to withhold the exact street number during marketing, avoiding public announcements on social media, and using a trusted mail-management option instead of widely publicized forwarding information. Some experts advise arranging credit freezes or fraud alerts around the time of a move and enrolling in identity-monitoring services.

Experts also urge caution in sharing information with moving companies and other service providers. Consumers should verify companies through independent reviews and government registrations, obtain written estimates, and avoid giving unnecessary personal identifiers when requesting quotes. Paper documents with names, Social Security numbers or account information should be shredded rather than tossed.

Beyond individual precautions, consumer advocates and some regulators have sought stronger controls on the data-broker industry, which aggregates and resells personal information with few uniform disclosure requirements. Critics say existing privacy rules do not always prevent resellers from making sensitive move-related details available to anyone willing to pay, and they have called for easier opt-out mechanisms and greater transparency about how personal data is collected and sold.

Law enforcement warns that scammers use exposed move information in multiple ways: by impersonating utility workers or service providers at a home, by sending targeted phishing emails and mail that reference a recent move, or by combining address information with other purchased records to open fraudulent accounts. Officials recommend that families and caretakers of older adults monitor mail and banking statements closely during a move and report suspicious contact to local police or consumer protection agencies.

As Americans continue to relocate for retirement, downsizing and other life changes, security specialists say awareness and preventive action can limit the window of opportunity for criminals. Taking steps to reduce public signals tied to an address, vetting vendors, and applying identity-protection measures can make moves safer for older adults and others who are particularly exposed during relocation.