What to do if your identity has been stolen
Identity theft — someone using your documents to open accounts or take loans — is serious but recoverable with the right help. In Australia, you do not have to work it out alone.
- Contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160 (8am-5pm AEST, weekdays) or via idcare.org — a free national service that builds you a tailored response plan.
- Report the crime through ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au so you have an official reference.
- Tell your bank straight away and ask them to watch for or block fraudulent activity.
- Place a ban or alert on your credit file with the credit bureaus to stop new accounts being opened in your name.
- Replace compromised identity documents — licence, passport, Medicare — through the issuing agency.
- Change passwords and turn on 2FA on your email and key accounts, and keep a written record of every step and reference number.
Still stuck after those?
You’ve done the right thing by trying. Send whedo.it a quick note — what you tried, what you saw — and a senior pair of eyes will be on it the same business day.