Have you ever shared sensitive personal details with someone… and then realized they were probably a scammer? It’s a concerning situation, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll experience identity fraud, which is the unauthorized use of your personal information. Key steps, such as placing a fraud alert or freeze on your credit or changing your passwords, can help safeguard your identity and finances.
Scammers are experts at convincing people to reveal their personal information, and they have endless tricks for doing so.
If you’ve been targeted in one of their schemes, remember this: revealing sensitive details to a bad actor doesn’t necessarily mean you will experience identity theft.
If you act fast, you can make it harder for the crooks to open accounts in your name, access your benefits, or commit other forms of fraud using the information they garnered.
Stay calm and assess the situation
When you accidentally give away your information, the first step is to remain calm and assess the situation.
Make a list of the information you shared with the scammers. Did they ask for a photo of your driver’s license, for example, or did you give them your online banking password?
Keep in mind that to open a new bank account or line of credit in your name, scammers may need several pieces of your information, including:
Address: You typically need to provide a physical address to open a credit account.
Date of birth: Birthdates are often used to verify identity.
Driver's license: Some credit applications require your driver's license number for additional verification.
Email address: Email addresses are used to set up new accounts and communicate.
Employment information: Some credit applications require information about your previous or current employment or income.
Full name: A legal name is required to open a bank account or credit card.
Phone number: Phone numbers can be used for verification purposes.
Social Security number (SSN): This is a crucial piece of information for opening credit accounts.
Depending on the situation, you may need to take some or all of the following actions.
Place a fraud alert on your credit
Your credit report is a window into your overall financial health. If you see unusual activity on your credit report (such as a new inquiry, an unfamiliar account, or an unexpected balance on an account you already have), that could be a sign of identity theft.
To make it more difficult for a fraudster to open a line of credit in your name, you can place a free fraud alert on your credit.
A fraud alert notifies the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) that you may be the victim of identity theft. The bureaus are then required to verify your identity any time they receive a request for a loan or new line of credit.
To issue a fraud alert, you need to contact just one of the three bureaus. That bureau will notify the other two, and you should receive a letter from each confirming that they placed the alert.
Place a credit freeze on your credit
For even stronger protection, consider a credit freeze, which prevents lenders from accessing your credit report at all, unless you lift the freeze.
To place a credit freeze, you need to contact each credit bureau individually. After receiving your request, each bureau will send you a confirmation letter containing a unique PIN or password. Keep this information in a safe place, as you will need it if you want to dethaw your credit.
A guide to contacting the credit bureaus
Contact the credit bureaus by phone or online:
Equifax
Experian
TransUnion
For more information about your fraud alert and credit freeze options, check out advice from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
For more information about your fraud alert and credit freeze options, check out advice from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Dispute fraudulent transactions
In some cases, you may think you're making a transaction with a legitimate business or person, only to later discover there's a scammer on the other end.
If this is the case, you should report the fraud and seek reimbursement directly from the financial institution. Do this as soon as possible to increase your chances of getting your money back.
If you paid with a credit or debit card, gift card, wire transfer, or payment app, contact the company or bank that issued the card or transaction. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.
It's not considered identity theft if you willingly provided your information or money to a fraudulent company or person. However, if you need help recovering your identity after a scam, our team is just a phone call away.
Take additional steps to protect your personal information
Your approach to protecting your finances and information will depend on the type of information you shared.
If you gave away your driver’s license number... Reach out to your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). They might flag your license number so that law enforcement is aware it could be stolen, or they may give you instructions on applying for a replacement license. Also request a copy of your driving record to make sure it doesn’t contain any unfamiliar citations or violations.
If you gave away your Social Security number... Check in with the Social Security Administration. Visit ssa.gov and set up an account if you haven’t already done so; this will prevent a fraudster from creating one in your name. If you know scammers have your Social Security number, you can place a “Block Electronic Access” request online or by phone (1-800-772-1213). With the block in place, neither you nor anyone else will be able to view or alter your information on the Social Security Administration’s website or through its automated telephone service. You can always reach out to remove the block later.
If you gave away account numbers... Notify other institutions as needed. If details were revealed about your bank accounts, credit cards, or other lines of credit, inform those lenders. If you shared your insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare information, contact those agencies.
If you gave away your credentials... Update your passwords. Change your website logins for any accounts that may have been compromised. If you used similar passwords for other accounts, switch those up, too – and follow our tips for selecting long, unique passwords when doing so.
Based on the type of scam, consider reporting it to local law enforcement, the Federal Trade Commission, your state consumer protection agency, and/or the Better Business Bureau.
If the scam occurred online, you should also file a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3); The FBI uses this to track online crimes, including scams.
Make the most of your identity protection plan
If you’re an Allstate Identity Protection member, you already have a leg up when it comes to keeping your identity and finances secure.
But for the strongest defenses, be sure to log in and activate the features included in your plan. You’ll find a tab for each on your account dashboard. Among our key features are:
Credit Monitoring: We’ll watch your credit for possible fraud or identity theft and send alerts about any activity, such as a new inquiry or a new account. If you notice something suspicious, give us a call using the number on your account dashboard and we’ll help you get to the bottom of it.
Dark Web Monitoring: Provide information — including your driver’s license number, financial account details, and email addresses — that you’d like us to watch for on the dark web. If we find it being shared in closed hacker forums, we’ll notify you immediately and guide you on what to do next.
Financial Transactions: Link your bank accounts, and we’ll monitor them for fraudulent activity. Be sure to set transaction alerts so we can alert you if withdrawals, account balances, and more go over (or under) the thresholds that you set.