If you shared personal information, such as your name, contact details, social security number, banking information, or passwords, with someone you now believe was a scammer, take immediate action to limit the damage. Start by changing the passwords on any accounts that may have been compromised, especially email accounts, financial accounts, and any platform that shares credentials with those accounts. If banking or payment information was shared, contact your bank or card issuer immediately to freeze the account or dispute unauthorized charges.
Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, which maintains the national fraud database and provides recovery guidance specific to what type of information was shared. If financial fraud occurred, file a report with your local police as well. For identity theft specifically, the FTC’s IdentityTheft.gov provides a personalized, step-by-step recovery plan tailored to the circumstances.
Monitor your credit reports for new accounts or inquiries you did not initiate. Free reports are available at AnnualCreditReport.com, and you can place a credit freeze with the three major bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name. If the fraud involved a fake job offer or employment scheme, also report the scam to the platform or website where the fraudulent listing appeared.
