How to Help an Online Identity Theft Potential Victim
I just learned that my dad fell for a online green card lottery scam. It happened over 3 years ago, the attacker took $60 and disappeared. On the other hand, he had his victim fill out all sorts of forms giving out private personal data. That worries me a lot more. So far, my dad hasn’t noticed any unusual activity on his bank account, and he just wants to put this incident behind him. But what can I tell him about the leaked info? How can he make sure that:
- It’s not going to be used by identity thieves?
- It’s not already being used by identity thieves?
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that the leaked information won’t be used by identity thieves or that it hasn’t already been used. However, there are some steps you can take to minimize the risk and protect yourself:
- File a complaint with the police to document the incident.
- Change your PIN codes and passwords for all your accounts.
- Report the incident to your bank and any related credit card companies.
While it may be a bit late to take these steps after 3 years, it’s still important to be proactive in protecting your personal information. Stay vigilant and educated about online scams and fraud to avoid falling victim in the future.