Recognise identity crime

How it can happen

There are many ways criminals can get your information online, such as:

• tricking you into giving it to them
• hacking into your device or online accounts
• data breaches of organisations that hold your details.

Common documents and details they target include driver licences, passports, Medicare numbers and bank account details.

Warning signs

Having your identity stolen can make it hard for you to get a job, a loan, or rent a house. It can also make it hard to get government payments or services. It’s important to protect your details and act quickly if you see warning signs that they have been stolen.

Some common warning signs are:

• you can’t log in to an online account or you notice someone else has logged in
• money goes missing from your bank account
• you are refused a financial service, loan or credit card
• you get bills, invoices or receipts for something you didn’t buy
• someone says they’ve been dealing with you when they haven’t.

Learn more about:

• identity theft on the Australian Cyber Security Centre website
• data breaches on the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website.

What to do if your personal information has been stolen or exposed

Find out how to recover from identity theft or a data breach.