Password
If you received a Dark Web Notification and it included your Password, here are some next steps to help protect yourself:
- Change your password.
- If you use this password for other websites or apps, then change it for those services too.
- Set up two-factor authentication whenever available with a website.
Email
Emails can be used for phishing schemes that criminals use to try to get your information. If you received a Dark Web Notification and it included your Email, here are some next steps to help protect yourself:
- If you are using this email as a login/username, consider changing this for better protection.
- We recommend that you never give any personal or sensitive information over email.
Password Combo List
If you received a Dark Web Notification and it included your password exposed in a combo list, a collection of email addresses and passwords from breached websites, here are some next steps to help protect yourself:
- Change your password.
- If you use this password for other websites or apps, then change it for those services too.
- Use a password manager to generate unique passwords for websites.
- Set up two-factor authentication whenever available with a website.
Date of Birth
Your Date of Birth, along with other personal information, can be used by identity thieves to hack into accounts and commit fraudulent activities.
If you received a Dark Web Notification and it included your Date of Birth, here are some next steps to help protect yourself:
- Review your financial statements and watch for any transactions you don't recognize.
- Remove mail from your mailbox right away. If you'll be away from home, request a mail hold.
- Shred anything that has personal information, including credit card and bank statements, receipts, and medical records.
- Opt for paperless delivery whenever possible and practical.
- Consider setting up a locked mailbox to decrease the risk of stolen mail.
Mother's Maiden Name
Your Mother's Maiden Name, along with other personal information, can be used by identity thieves to hack into accounts and commit fraudulent activities.
If you received a Dark Web Notification that included your Mother's Maiden Name, here are some next steps to help protect yourself:
- Review your financial statements and watch for any transactions you don't recognize.
- Remove mail from your mailbox right away. If you'll be away from home, request a mail hold.
- Shred anything that has personal information, including credit card and bank statements, receipts, and medical records.
- Opt for paperless delivery whenever possible and practical.
- Consider setting up a locked mailbox to decrease the risk of stolen mail.
Driver's License
Your Driver's License Number, along with other personal information, can be used by identity thieves to commit fraudulent activities.
If you received a Dark Web Notification and it included your Driver's License, here are some next steps to help protect yourself:
- Review your financial statements and watch for any transactions you don't recognize.
- Remove mail from your mailbox right away. If you'll be away from home, request a mail hold.
- Shred anything that has personal information, including credit card and bank statements, receipts, and medical records.
- Opt for paperless delivery whenever possible and practical.
- Consider setting up a locked mailbox to decrease the risk of stolen mail.
Bank Account
If you received a Dark Web Notification and it included your Bank Account, here are some next steps to help protect yourself:
- Review bank statements for accuracy.
- Never disclose a debit or credit card PIN (personal identification number) in email or on the phone.
- Be suspicious of strangers who ask for personal information by email or phone.
- If you're asked to provide your Social Security number or other confidential information, make sure you know who wants the information and why.
- Be wary of email attachments and "free" software.
- Don't use part of your Social Security number as a PIN.
- Think before you download apps, click on links or reply to emails that might be harmful or fraudulent.
- Keep your laptop or mobile device's operating system and Internet browser up to date.
- Don't store passwords, your Social Security or other sensitive information on your smartphone.
- Be aware of your surroundings when you bank online and watch out for "shoulder surfers," people who hover nearby and observe your information without your knowledge.
Passport Number
Your Passport Number, along with other personal information, can be used by identity thieves to commit fraudulent activities.
If you received a Dark Web Notification and it included your Passport, here are some next steps to help protect yourself:
- Contact your local passport office to file a complaint
- Apply for a replacement passport
Name
Your Name and Address, along with other personal information, can be used by identity thieves to hack into accounts and commit fraudulent activities.
If you received a Dark Web Notification and it included your Name, here are some next steps to help protect yourself:
- Review your financial statements and watch for any transactions you don't recognize.
- Remove mail from your mailbox right away. If you'll be away from home, request a mail hold.
- Shred anything that has personal information, including credit card and bank statements, receipts, and medical records.
- Opt for paperless delivery whenever possible and practical.
- Consider setting up a locked mailbox to decrease the risk of stolen mail.
Address
Your Name and Address, along with other personal information, can be used by identity thieves to hack into accounts and commit fraudulent activities.
If you received a Dark Web Notification and it included your Address, here are some next steps to help protect yourself:
- Review your financial statements and watch for any transactions you don't recognize.
- Remove mail from your mailbox right away. If you'll be away from home, request a mail hold.
- Shred anything that has personal information, including credit card and bank statements, receipts, and medical records.
- Opt for paperless delivery whenever possible and practical.
- Consider setting up a locked mailbox to decrease the risk of stolen mail.
Phone Number
Phone numbers can be used for phishing schemes that criminals use to try to get your information to commit fraudulent activities.
If you received a Dark Web Notification and it included your Phone Number, here are some next steps to help protect yourself:
- Never give any personal or bank information over the phone unless you are certain of the caller.
- If you start receiving suspicious calls, contact your telephone service provider to see if it is possible to block calls from those numbers.
- Register your phone number on the national Do Not Call Registry or by calling 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236) from the number you wish to register. If you register online, you must click on the confirmation email you receive to complete your free registration.
Identity thieves can you use any of your insurance information to submit false claims, which can be for, but not limited to, medical, car, life, home, or pet.
If you received a Dark Web Notification and it included any of your insurance information, including but not limited to policy numbers, medical information, or insurance providers, here are some next steps to help protect yourself:
- Carefully review any insurance bills and claims.
- Be on the lookout for:
- Medical or other insurance collection notices on your credit report that you don't recognize
- A notice from your health plan saying you reached your benefit limit
- A denial of insurance because of past claims or medical records for a condition you don't have
- Other tips:
- Remove mail from your mailbox right away. If you'll be away from home, request a mail hold.
- Shred anything that has personal information, including credit card and bank statements, receipts, and medical records.
- Opt for paperless delivery whenever possible and practical.
- Consider setting up a locked mailbox to decrease the risk of stolen mail.
Gamer tag
If you received a Dark Web Notification and it included your Gamer tag, here are some next steps to help protect yourself:
If you received a Dark Web Notification and it included your Social Security Number, here are some next steps to help protect yourself:
Also known as a security freeze, a credit freeze allows you to restrict access to your credit report, which makes it more difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name. Most creditors will want to request your credit report before they approve a new account. If they can't review your report, they may not extent credit and then no account would be opened.
Keep in mind, however, that a credit freeze may prevent you from opening a new account, applying for a job, renting an apartment or buying insurance. If you need to do any of these, you can lift the freeze temporarily either for a specified time or to allow access to a specified party. You can have the freeze lifted for free and place it again for free when you are done allowing access to your credit.
While a credit freeze can help prevent identity thieves from opening accounts using your information, they will not prevent a thief from accessing existing accounts and will not prevent prescreened offers of credit.
All the national bureaus are required, by law, to offer you credit freezes for free. Remember, freezing your credit will not impact your credit score or prevent you from getting your free annual credit report and your existing creditors and certain governmental agencies will still have access to your credit report.