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Someone Has My Personal Information — What Should I Do?

You've learned that your ID number, banking details, address, or other personal information may have been exposed, perhaps through a data breach at a company you use. This increases the risk of identity theft and targeted scams, but it doesn't mean fraud has definitely happened.

What to do now

If your personal information has been exposed, work out exactly what information was shared, secure affected accounts, watch for suspicious activity and avoid giving the same information to anyone who contacts you unexpectedly.

Do this now

Check which specific information was exposed, if the notifying organisation has told you.
Watch your bank accounts and credit-related communication closely over the coming weeks.
Be extra cautious of follow-up calls or messages referencing the leaked details — scammers often use leaked information to sound convincing.

Then do this

Consider placing a note or alert with your bank if ID or card details were exposed.
Change passwords on accounts linked to the exposed email address.
Enable MFA on your most important accounts (email, banking).

Check these things

Which specific fields were exposed — email, ID number, banking details, password?
Are you receiving unusual calls or messages that reference this information?

Don't do this

Don't panic-close accounts without understanding what was actually exposed.
Don't share further personal information to 'verify' your identity with someone who contacts you unexpectedly.

When should I get help?

Contact your bank if ID or financial details were part of the leak.
Consider consulting South Africa's information regulator resources on POPIA for your rights.

Related help

Your situation may involve more than one issue. These related guides can help you work through the next step.

I Entered My Banking Details on a Scam Site — What Now?If you entered banking or card details into a suspicious site, contact your bank immediately through its official app, website, or trusted contact number. Do not use details from the suspicious message.I Think I Was SIM Swapped — What Should I Do?If your phone suddenly loses mobile service without an obvious reason and you suspect a SIM swap, contact your mobile provider immediately and secure important accounts using trusted recovery methods.I Think Someone Has Access to My Account — What Do I Do?If you see activity you don't recognise, secure the affected account directly, change the password, enable MFA, review recent activity and linked devices, and contact the provider if necessary.

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