Discovering that your personal information may have been exposed can feel unsettling. The good news is that there are practical steps you can take to protect yourself and reduce the risk of fraud or identity theft.
A data breach occurs when personal information is accessed, disclosed or stolen without permission. This may include your name, date of birth, address, email, phone number, drivers licence, passport details or banking information.
If you’ve received a notification from an organisation, take a moment to read it carefully.
It should explain:
• What information was involved
• When the breach occurred
• What the organisation is doing in response
• Recommended steps you should take
• How to contact them for more information
If you’re unsure whether you were affected, contact the organisation directly using details from their official website.
Scammers often use data breaches as an opportunity to target affected customers.
Be cautious if you receive:
• Unexpected emails, text messages or phone calls
• Requests for passwords or one-time security codes
• Messages that create a sense of urgency
• Requests to click a link or verify your details
If any of your online accounts may have been affected, update your passwords as soon as possible.
We recommend:
• Using a strong and unique password for each account
• Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever available
• Using a reputable password manager to store your passwords securely
If you have used the same password across multiple accounts, change those as well.
If your banking details or identity documents may have been exposed, please get in touch with us as soon as possible.
Our team can help you:
• Monitor your accounts for unusual activity
• Block or replace your cards
• Update your online banking credentials
• Add additional security measures to your accounts
If you notice any transactions you don’t recognise, let us know immediately.
Keep a close eye on your:
• Bank and credit card accounts
• Online banking access
• Email and social media accounts
• Mobile phone and utility accounts
Look out for transactions, account changes or communications that seem unusual.
If documents such as your driver licence, passport, Medicare card or tax file number have been exposed, you may be at increased risk of identity theft.
Consider:
• Replacing affected identity documents
• Contacting the Australian Taxation Office if your tax file number may have been exposed
• Checking your credit report for unauthorised applications
IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service.
They provide free and confidential assistance to people impacted by data breaches, scams and identity theft.
Phone: 1800 595 160
Review your credit report to ensure no one has applied for loans or credit in your name.
You can access a free credit report from:
• Equifax Australia
• Experian Australia
If you believe you have been the victim of cybercrime or identity theft, report it to the Australian Cyber Security Centre. Their contact phone number is 1300 292 371.
For more information on how you can take to reduce your risk of identity theft can be found on our security page.
