They have your identity or personal details
If a scammer has your Social Security number, ID photos, or enough detail to act as you, these steps lock down your credit and accounts. Most are free and take minutes.
What to expect
You can’t take your details back, but credit freezes, fraud alerts, and an IRS PIN make them nearly useless to a scammer. People who act early usually avoid lasting damage. Misuse can start months later, so keep checking.
Right now
Do these first
Free, about ten minutes each online, and it blocks new accounts in your name. This is the most valuable step on this page.
Links open official sites in a new tab.
Within 24 hours
While it’s fresh
In the weeks ahead
Keep an eye on it
Did anything else happen?
Staying safe from here
Add layers of protection
Download the free Scamwise app to automatically block scam messages, flag scam calls, and check anything suspicious instantly.
Freeze your credit
It’s free at all three bureaus and stops anyone opening accounts in your name.
How to freeze your creditusa.govTurn on two-step verification
Start with your email and bank. It’s in each account’s security settings. With it on, a stolen password alone won’t get anyone in.
Hang up and call back
If a call, text, or email pushes you to act fast on money, contact the company using the number on its website or your card.
Expect a second attempt
People who’ve been scammed get targeted again, often by someone offering to help.
Help fight scams. Share the guide.
Scammers count on silence. Sending this guide to friends and family helps them act fast if it ever happens to them.
This page is general information, not legal or financial advice. Policies change and vary by institution, so confirm details with your bank or the official agency. Scamwise never charges victims and cannot recover funds.
0 of 8 steps done
Stop scams before they reach you.
The free Scamwise app blocks scam texts and voicemails and flags scam calls.
'%20fill-opacity='0.65'/%3e%3cpath%20id='Vector_2'%20d='M24.8828%200.722112H48.7985V23.8395H24.8828V0.722112ZM24.1607%200V24.5592H49.5181V0H24.1607Z'%20fill='var(--fill-0,%20%231C004F)'%20fill-opacity='0.65'/%3e%3cpath%20id='Vector_3'%20d='M72.9634%200.724568V23.8395H49.5389V0.724568H72.9634ZM73.6855%200H48.8193V24.5592H73.6855V0Z'%20fill='var(--fill-0,%20%231C004F)'%20fill-opacity='0.65'/%3e%3cpath%20id='Vector_4'%20d='M13.6237%205.21424C11.8552%205.21915%2010.0819%205.85038%209.56607%207.61882L9.38432%205.52863H6.60639V19.0228H9.73309V10.7111C9.73309%209.26936%2010.9489%208.01426%2012.4545%208.00444C14.0044%207.98725%2015.1735%209.13182%2015.1735%2010.8438V19.0228H18.3444V10.8855C18.3002%207.67286%2017.2047%205.20441%2013.6237%205.21178V5.21424Z'%20fill='var(--fill-0,%20%231C004F)'%20fill-opacity='0.65'/%3e%3cpath%20id='Vector_5'%20d='M65.4989%205.53384C62.2764%204.63489%2060.621%206.32227%2060.2697%207.62158L60.0855%205.52893H57.3125V19.0108H60.4392V10.876C60.4392%208.90125%2062.1929%207.87457%2063.5708%208.0244C64.6761%208.14475%2065.1084%208.47879%2065.4989%208.69247V5.53384Z'%20fill='var(--fill-0,%20%231C004F)'%20fill-opacity='0.65'/%3e%3cpath%20id='Vector_6'%20d='M37.5237%205.20694C35.6791%205.20694%2034.0777%206.37362%2033.697%207.62135L33.5103%205.52624H30.7398V21.3562H33.8615V17.1193C34.1072%2018.1215%2035.571%2019.1236%2037.6097%2019.1236C42.0332%2019.1236%2043.723%2015.6972%2043.723%2012.2463C43.7181%209.04593%2041.9743%205.20448%2037.5237%205.20694ZM37.4254%2016.2916C35.0233%2016.2916%2033.9475%2014.2776%2033.9475%2012.2635C33.9475%2010.247%2035.097%208.10521%2037.4254%208.10521C39.7539%208.10521%2040.8788%2010.2249%2040.8788%2012.2635C40.8788%2014.3046%2039.803%2016.2916%2037.4254%2016.2916Z'%20fill='var(--fill-0,%20%231C004F)'%20fill-opacity='0.65'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
'%20fill-opacity='0.65'/%3e%3cpath%20id='path3352'%20d='M28.868%200.331511L27.3118%209.06599C27.1756%209.74685%2027.1173%2010.4083%2027.1173%2011.0308C27.1173%2015.6606%2031.1635%2016.3609%2033.5952%2016.3609C38.6919%2016.3609%2040.8901%2014.6685%2041.6877%2010.097L43.3996%200.312062H38.2834L36.8244%208.5213C36.3575%2011.0891%2036.0268%2012.4314%2034.1204%2012.4314C32.8754%2012.4314%2032.2724%2011.77%2032.2724%2010.4083C32.2724%209.88302%2032.3502%209.24107%2032.5058%208.44349L33.9842%200.312062H28.868V0.331511Z'%20fill='var(--fill-0,%20%231C004F)'%20fill-opacity='0.65'/%3e%3cpath%20id='path3356'%20d='M70.4393%2016.0495H75.5554L76.2752%2012.0033H78.6874C83.1422%2012.0033%2085.6127%209.59108%2085.6127%205.19466C85.6127%202.1016%2083.4729%200.331365%2079.7184%200.331365H73.1822L70.4393%2016.0495ZM78.4151%208.13209H76.9366L77.6175%204.43599H78.9987C80.1269%204.43599%2080.73%205.00013%2080.73%206.03115C80.73%207.33451%2079.8546%208.13209%2078.4151%208.13209Z'%20fill='var(--fill-0,%20%231C004F)'%20fill-opacity='0.65'/%3e%3cpath%20id='path3360'%20d='M95.5534%200C89.9898%200%2086.6633%203.59884%2086.6633%209.64878C86.6633%2013.8507%2089.3089%2016.3796%2093.7442%2016.3796C99.3078%2016.3796%20102.634%2012.7807%20102.634%206.7308C102.654%202.50946%20100.008%200%2095.5534%200ZM94.0555%2012.3139C92.7327%2012.3139%2091.9545%2011.3607%2091.9545%209.76549C91.9545%209.16244%2092.0129%208.63721%2092.1296%208.03416C92.5187%205.97212%2093.1801%204.08517%2095.2616%204.08517C96.5844%204.08517%2097.3625%205.03837%2097.3625%206.63353C97.3625%207.23658%2097.3042%207.76182%2097.1875%208.36487C96.7984%2010.4074%2096.137%2012.3139%2094.0555%2012.3139Z'%20fill='var(--fill-0,%20%231C004F)'%20fill-opacity='0.65'/%3e%3cpath%20id='path3364'%20d='M120.435%2016.0494H125.551L127.574%204.55256H131.426L132.165%200.350668H119.073L118.334%204.55256H122.419L120.435%2016.0494Z'%20fill='var(--fill-0,%20%231C004F)'%20fill-opacity='0.65'/%3e%3cpath%20id='path3366'%20d='M111.953%206.14721C110.338%205.64142%20109.677%205.42744%20109.677%204.66876C109.677%204.16298%20110.007%203.55993%20110.98%203.55993C111.7%203.55993%20112.303%203.96845%20112.536%204.5715L117.049%203.34594C116.524%201.12828%20114.618%200%20111.33%200C105.144%200%20104.658%204.14352%20104.658%205.40798C104.658%207.9758%20106.019%209.55151%20108.976%2010.3685C109.754%2010.5825%20110.649%2010.816%20110.649%2011.6719C110.649%2012.3528%20110.143%2012.7807%20109.268%2012.7807C108.471%2012.7807%20107.615%2012.3139%20107.323%2011.4968L102.868%2012.7029C103.354%2015.0373%20105.553%2016.3601%20108.996%2016.3601C111.622%2016.3601%20116.018%2015.6598%20116.018%2010.9132C116.038%208.53995%20114.696%206.98369%20111.953%206.14721Z'%20fill='var(--fill-0,%20%231C004F)'%20fill-opacity='0.65'/%3e%3cpath%20id='path3370'%20d='M5.69978%2016.0494L8.46213%200.350668H0V16.0494H5.69978Z'%20fill='var(--fill-0,%20%231C004F)'%20fill-opacity='0.65'/%3e%3cpath%20id='path3374'%20d='M134.363%200.350668L131.62%2016.0494H140.083V0.350668H134.363Z'%20fill='var(--fill-0,%20%231C004F)'%20fill-opacity='0.65'/%3e%3cpath%20id='polygon3376'%20d='M49.5078%2011.4197H53.8069L54.5072%207.47068H50.2081L50.6944%204.5527H56.7054L57.4446%200.331365H46.3174L43.5745%2016.0495H48.6907L49.5078%2011.4197Z'%20fill='var(--fill-0,%20%231C004F)'%20fill-opacity='0.65'/%3e%3cpath%20id='polygon3378'%20d='M62.911%2011.4197H67.2296L67.9299%207.47068H63.6308L64.1171%204.5527H70.1281L70.8674%200.331365H59.7401L56.9972%2016.0495H62.1134L62.911%2011.4197Z'%20fill='var(--fill-0,%20%231C004F)'%20fill-opacity='0.65'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
