Phishing attacks are becoming more sophisticated every day, so don't blame yourself. It is more important to act quickly to protect your information and identity. If you believe you have been tricked this way, assume that you will become a victim of credit card fraud, bank fraud, or identity theft. Below is some advice on what to do if you are in this situation in the United States:
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What to do, if...
If you have given out your credit or debit or ATM card information
Report the theft of this information to the card issuer as quickly as possibleMany companies have toll-free numbers and 24-hour service to deal with such emergencies.Cancel your account and open a new oneReview your billing statements carefully after the lossIf they show any unauthorized charges, it's best to send a letter to the card issuer describing each questionable charge.Credit Card Loss or Fraudulent Charges (FCBA).Your maximum liability under federal law for unauthorized use of your credit card is $50.If the loss involves your credit card number, but not the card itself, you have no liability for unauthorized useATM or Debit Card Loss or Fraudulent Transfers (EFTA).Your liability under federal law for unauthorized use of your ATM or debit card depends on how quickly you report the loss.You risk unlimited loss if you fail to report an unauthorized transfer within 60 days after your bank statement containing unauthorized use is mailed to you
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If you have given out your bank account information
Report the theft of this information to the bank as quickly as possibleCancel your account and open a new on
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If you have downloaded a virus or Trojan
Some phishing attacks use viruses and/or Trojans to install programs called "key loggers" on your computer. These programs capture and send out any information that you type to the phisher, including credit card numbers, usernames and passwords, Social Security Numbers, etc. In this case, you should:
Install and/or update anti-virus and personal firewall softwareUpdate all virus definitions and run a full scanConfirm every connection your firewall allowsIf your system appears to have been compromised, fix it and then change your password again, since you may well have transmitted the new one to the hackerCheck your other accounts! The hackers may have helped themselves to many different accounts:Check your eBay account, PayPal, your email ISP, online bank accounts, online trading accounts, Amazon.com and other e-commerce accounts, and everything else for which you use online password
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If you have given out your personal identification information
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, Social Security number, credit card number or other identifying information, without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes. If you have given out this kind of information to a phisher, you should do the following:
Report the theft to the three major credit reporting agencies, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion Corporation, and do the following:Request that they place a fraud alert and a victim’s statement in your file.Request a FREE copy of your credit report to check whether any accounts were opened without your consent.Request that the agencies remove inquiries and/or fraudulent accounts stemming from the theft.
Major Credit Bureaus
Equifax
To order your report, call: 800-685-1111 or write: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241To report fraud, call: 800-525-6285 and write: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241Hearing impaired call 1-800-255-0056 and ask the operator to call the Auto Disclosure Line at 1-800-685-1111 to request a copy of your report.
Experian
To order your report, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) or write: P.O. Box 2002, Allen TX 75013To report fraud, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) and write: P.O. Box 9530, Allen TX 75013 TDD: 1-800-972-0322
Trans Union To order your report, call: 800-888-4213 or write: P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022To report fraud, call: 800-680-7289 and write: Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634 TDD: 1-877-553-7803
Notify your bank(s) and ask them to flag your account and contact you regarding any unusual activity:
If bank accounts were set up without your consent, close them.
If your ATM card was stolen, get a new card, account number and PIN.
Contact your local police department to file a criminal report.
Contact the Social Security Administration’s Fraud Hotline to report the unauthorized use of your personal identification information.
Notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of your identity theft.
Check to see whether an unauthorized license number has been issued in your name.
Notify the passport office to be watch out for anyone ordering a passport in your name.
File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Ask for a free copy of "ID Theft: When Bad Things Happen in Your Good Name", a guide that will help you guard against and recover from your theft.
File a complaint with the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) The Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), with a mission to address fraud committed over the Internet.For victims of Internet fraud, IFCC provides a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of a suspected criminal or civil violation.
Document the names and phone numbers of everyone you speak to regarding the incident. Follow-up your phone calls with letters.
Keep copies of all correspondence.
