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ACTIVE CRISIS

I sent a scammer a photo of my ID — what do I do now?

You're in the right place. Sending a photo of your ID is serious, but there are immediate steps you can take. No legitimate employer, landlord, or company will ask you to send ID photos through an unofficial channel — that is a standard identity-theft setup.

In an active crisis?

  • Call your bank
  • Call the platform (Amazon, PayPal, MobilePay, etc.)
  • Call local police

Step 1 — Place a fraud alert on your credit file

Do this now: Contact one of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion — and place a fraud alert. When you place it with one, they are required to notify the other two. A fraud alert tells lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening new accounts.

A fraud alert is free and lasts one year. If you want stronger protection, place a credit freeze instead — it blocks new credit entirely and is also free.

Important: A photo of your government-issued ID (passport, driver's licence, national ID card) gives a scammer enough to open bank accounts, apply for loans, or create fake profiles in your name. Act quickly.

Step 2 — Report identity theft and get a recovery plan

Do this now (US): Go to IdentityTheft.gov (FTC). It creates a personalised recovery plan and generates official reports you can use with banks and creditors. It is free.

If you are outside the US, contact your national identity protection authority:

  • UK: report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk and contact CIFAS (cifas.org.uk) to register a protective registration on your name
  • Australia: report to IDCARE at idcare.org — Australia and New Zealand's national identity and cyber support service
  • Denmark: report to politi.dk and contact your bank immediately via NemID/MitID netbank

Step 3 — Alert your bank and monitor your accounts

Do this now: Call your bank and tell them your ID has been compromised. Ask them to flag your account for unusual activity and to alert you before any large transactions are processed.

Check your bank statements and credit card statements for any transactions you do not recognise. Also check your credit report for new accounts you did not open.

Important: If the scammer also has your address, date of birth, or phone number alongside your ID photo, the risk is higher. They have enough to pass identity checks at many financial institutions. The credit freeze (Step 1) is especially important in this case.

Step 4 — Consider whether to replace your ID document

A photo of your ID does not automatically mean you need to replace it — the document itself has not been stolen. However, if you have reason to believe the scammer is actively using your identity, contact the issuing authority:

  • US passport: contact the US Department of State
  • US driver's licence: contact your state's DMV
  • UK passport: contact HM Passport Office
  • UK driving licence: contact DVLA
  • Danish passport or NemID/MitID: contact Borgerservice or your municipality

Step 5 — Report the scam

Report the scammer to the authorities in your country.

You're safer once you've done this: Fraud alert or credit freeze placed, identity theft report filed, bank alerted, accounts monitored. These steps make it significantly harder for a scammer to misuse your ID.

What happens next

Keep monitoring your credit report over the coming months. Identity fraud can surface weeks after the original incident. Check annualcreditreport.com (US) or your national equivalent every 90 days.

This is not your fault. Scammers who request ID photos often pose as job recruiters, landlords, or government officials. The request sounds routine — that is how the scam works.

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This page was last reviewed: June 26, 2026.
Crisis pages are drafted with AI assistance, then reviewed line-by-line by the editor, sourced against official reporting authorities, and tested for tone and clarity before publication.