Skip to content

ACTIVE CRISIS

I gave a scammer my personal details — what do I do now?

You're in the right place. What you need to do next depends on what you shared. This page covers the most common situations — address, phone number, date of birth, and combinations of these. Scammers use personal details to impersonate you or to make follow-up scams more convincing.

In an active crisis?

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

Step 1 — Identify what you shared

The risk level depends on what the scammer now has. Work through this list:

  • Address only — lower risk on its own; higher risk if combined with your name and date of birth. See the address-specific page for physical safety steps.
  • Phone number — expect follow-up scam calls or texts. Block the scammer's number and be cautious of any unexpected calls claiming to be your bank or a government agency.
  • Date of birth — on its own, limited risk. Combined with name, address, and phone number, it can be used to pass identity checks.
  • Name + address + date of birth together — this combination is enough to attempt identity fraud. Move to Step 2 immediately.
  • Social Security number or national ID number — go to the SSN page or the ID photo page for specific steps.
  • Bank account or card details — call your bank right now.

Important: Scammers often collect information in stages across multiple calls or messages. If you have spoken to this person more than once, assume they have more information than you realise.

Step 2 — Place a fraud alert if you shared identifying combinations

Do this now: If you shared your name plus address plus date of birth (or any two of these together with your phone number), place a fraud alert with one of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. When you place it with one, they notify the other two. It is free.

A fraud alert tells lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening any new accounts. For stronger protection, place a credit freeze — it blocks new credit entirely and is also free.

Step 3 — Watch for follow-up scams

Do this now: Be alert for any calls, texts, or emails in the coming days that use your personal details to sound legitimate. A scammer who has your name and address may call back pretending to be your bank, the police, or a government agency — and use your details to seem credible.

If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and call the organisation back on a number you find yourself — on the back of your bank card, or on the official website. Do not use any number the caller gives you.

Important: Your bank, the police, and government agencies will never call you and ask you to confirm your details to "verify your identity." If a caller already knows your address and asks you to confirm it — that is a scam using the information you already gave them.

Step 4 — Alert your bank

Call your bank and let them know your personal details have been shared with a scammer. Ask them to add a note to your account so that any unusual activity — particularly requests to change your address or contact details — triggers an extra verification step.

Use the number on the back of your bank card.

Step 5 — Report it

Report the scammer to the authorities in your country. You do not need to have lost money to report.

You're safer once you've done this: You know what was shared, a fraud alert is in place if needed, your bank is alerted, and you are watching for follow-up contact. You have options, and you have taken them.

What happens next

For most people who shared only an address or phone number, the immediate risk is follow-up scam contact rather than identity fraud. Stay alert, block the scammer, and do not engage further.

If you shared a fuller set of identifying details, monitor your credit report over the coming months. Check annualcreditreport.com (US) or your national equivalent every 90 days.

This is not your fault. Scammers build trust over multiple contacts before asking for personal details. You are not alone.

Related situations

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.