How to Fake Your Death & Disappear Without a Trace

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Finn Kobler. Finn Kobler graduated from USC in 2022 with a BFA in Writing for Screen/Television. He is a two-time California State Champion and record holder in Original Prose/Poetry, a 2018 finalist for the Los Angeles Youth Poet Laureate, and he's written micro-budget films that have been screened in over 150 theaters nationwide. Growing up, Finn spent every summer helping his family's nonprofit arts program, Showdown Stage Company, empower people through accessible media. He hopes to continue that mission with his writing at wikiHow.

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You’ve heard stories and seen it in movies: people faking their own death and disappearing into the ether forever (or at least until they get caught). But how do they pull it off? Is it actually possible? Is it even legal? If you’ve got burning questions about “pseudocide,” you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to fake your own death, how to avoid getting caught, and the emotional challenges you’ll face if you really decide to go through with it.

Faking Your Death

Although pseudocide isn't illegal, it's psychologically, emotionally, and logically challenging. You may also have to break the law to stay off-the-grid. Gradually wipe traces of your identity, like deleting your social media and email accounts. Clear as much debt as you can and set aside cash to fund your new life.

Think twice about faking your own death.

Also consider the emotional impact that faking your death will have on your loved ones. Loss is traumatizing. Is it worth putting them through the pain of thinking you’re gone forever?
Be prepared for the emotional difficulty of leaving your home and loved ones behind. Lots of people who fake their own death end up returning or confessing, because they miss their old life. [2] X Research source

Understand the legal ramifications of pseudocide.

For example, creating a fake identity is considered identity fraud. Cashing in on your life insurance policy after faking your death is insurance fraud. [4] X Research source
If you’re pretending to be dead, you also won’t be able to pay taxes as yourself, which will eventually lead to charges of tax fraud. [5] X Trustworthy Source Internal Revenue Service U.S. government agency in charge of managing the Federal Tax Code Go to source

Begin erasing your information months in advance.

Start by deleting small, inconsequential evidence of yourself like emails and social media accounts. Then, after a few weeks, move on to bigger things like switching SIM cards or getting a new phone.
Clear as much debt as you can before disappearing, but don’t do it all at once. Take a little off each week.
Never use your personal devices to research or plan your death. Handwrite important information and use public computers (like the ones in your library) for online planning.

Start stockpiling cash gradually.

There is no exact number for how much money you should save to fake your own death. While living off the grid will likely be cheaper than your current lifestyle, you'll also be without luxuries like insurance, streaming accounts, and other things that can leave a paper trail.
To budget for a pseudocide, ask yourself: where do you plan on living? How much would it cost to feed yourself and to buy basic necessities?
Getting a job is hard (but not impossible) after faking your own death, so you’ll need to have a decent amount of cash to get you through until you find a source of income.

Stage your death.

When staging your death, look for scenarios that will make your body hard to find: getting lost at sea, driving off a cliff, etc.
No fake death is foolproof. If law enforcement discovers financial, legal, or marital problems, they may investigate further, even if they think you’re gone for good.

Leave some belongings behind to avoid suspicion.

Scrubbing too much after you disappear can also tip some people off. It’s unlikely someone who got lost at sea would have a completely cleared search history or be mysteriously missing all of their valuables. Find a happy medium between leaving too much and too little.
Generally, the less money and fewer assets you have, the less likely your disappearance will raise suspicions.

Assume a new identity.

Avoid visiting places or traveling with companies that check IDs (bars, planes, etc). Using forged identification is illegal, and obtaining these documents is often costly (sometimes as much as six figures). It’s not worth the stress, risk, or financial strain.

Cut ties with everyone you know.

Don’t look at yourself online either. While you may get curious about investigations and how your loved ones are handling your pseudocide, your IP address can give away your location. [12] X Research source

Lay low immediately after your “death.”

Usually, investigations for missing people cool down after the first 72 hours, but you should probably wait about a week or so before you risk long-term travel. [13] X Research source
If you have to go out for any reason, disguise yourself.

Move somewhere where you won’t be recognized.

While it may seem counterintuitive, move to a big city instead of a secluded small town. You’re more likely to blend in plain sight. [15] X Research source
Travel by train or bus to your new city. Both of these are low-profile and, as long as you travel domestically, won’t check your ID.

Work under-the-table to support yourself.

Look for unskilled labor positions like farming, cleaning, and food service. Advanced positions will require you to show a fake employment history, which is illegal and will raise suspicion.

Stay private to protect your identity.

When people ask personal questions, try to change the subject as organically as possible. You want to seem shy, not suspicious.

Community Q&A

What if I want to get married after faking my death? Community Answer

Getting married can be risky, but you don't have to get married to bond yourself with someone. Tell them you don't believe in legal marriage and just try to get them to agree to a common law situation.

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Why would someone fake their own death? Community Answer

Some people might do it for financial reasons, like to escape a large debt. Others might want to completely leave their lives behind and start over somewhere new.

What if I have a paper due tomorrow? Community Answer Write your paper. Faking your death is a lot harder than writing a paper.

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