Account Takeover Fraud
Criminals gain access to existing bank, credit, or utility accounts through phishing, SIM swaps, or credential stuffing. They drain funds or make purchases.
🚩 Red Flags
- ⚠Phone suddenly has no service (SIM swap)
- ⚠Password reset emails you didn't request
- ⚠Locked out of accounts
- ⚠Unknown transactions or purchases
- ⚠Contact info changed without your action
🛡️ Protect Yourself
- →CONTACT carrier immediately if phone loses service
- →USE authenticator apps instead of SMS 2FA
- →UNIQUE passwords for every account
- →FREEZE credit if accounts compromised
- →REPORT to bank and FTC immediately
More Details
- “Your password has been changed”
- “New device logged into your account”
- “Address change confirmation”
- “Large purchase you didn't make”
- “SIM card has been transferred”
Common Questions
Signs: unexpected bills, debt collection calls, denied credit, unfamiliar accounts on credit report, IRS notice about duplicate tax filing.
Freeze credit at all 3 bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) — it's free. File report at identitytheft.gov. Contact affected companies.
Free tools work well. Credit freezes are free and most effective. Paid services add convenience but aren't essential.
Typically 6-12 months to resolve all fraudulent accounts. Some cases take years. Document everything and be persistent.
Report This Scam
If you've encountered this scam, report it to help protect others.
Warn Someone You Know
Know someone who might fall for this? Share this warning with them.
Related Scams
Bank Impersonation Scam
Scammers pose as your bank's fraud department. Your bank will never ask you to move money to protect it.
Fake Data Breach Notification Scam
Scammers send fake breach notifications claiming your data was exposed. Links lead to phishing sites or paid "protection" services. Real breaches notify by mail.
Sextortion Email Scam
Scammers claim webcam recording of you, demand Bitcoin. They have no video—it's mass spam. Old password from data breaches is their "proof." FBI IC3: 86,415 complaints, $143M losses in 2024.
Think you received a message like this?
Free • Private • No signup required
🔒 We analyze your message — then it's gone.
73% of Americans targeted(Pew, 2025)
|$470M lost to text scams in 2024(FTC)
|$16.6B total losses(FBI IC3, 2024)