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After a data breach, scammers may use stolen details to make fake emails, texts, or calls seem connected to the incident. Don’t trust a message just because it names the breached company or includes information about you. Verify it through the organization’s app, website, or phone number that you find independently; don’t use links or contact details supplied only in the message.
Why phishing can follow a data breach
Phishing is a deceptive communication designed to get you to reveal information, visit a malicious site, open a harmful attachment, or give an attacker access to an account. A breach can provide details that make an impersonation feel more convincing or timely.
In a September 2017 alert about the Equifax breach, CISA relayed warnings that phishing volume often increases after major breaches and that scammers can use stolen data to make messages more credible. The alert offered no frequency estimate, and it is a historical example—not a claim that every breach leads to a measurable surge. Read CISA’s archived Equifax breach alert.
Signs a message may be phishing
Check the whole message rather than relying on its logo, tone, or one detail that seems familiar. CISA’s 2024 phishing tip sheet highlights these warning signs:
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- The sender’s email address does not match the organization or person it claims to represent.
- A link is shortened or points to a web address you do not recognize.
- The message pressures you to act urgently or uses emotional language to provoke a quick response.
- It asks for personal or financial information.
- It includes an unexpected attachment.
- It contains poor writing or misspellings. CISA notes that this clue is less common, so polished writing is not proof that a message is genuine.
A scammer may know your name or other personal information. That can make a message plausible, but it does not establish who sent it. See CISA’s Avoid Phishing Scams with Three Simple Tips sheet.
How to verify a breach-related message safely
- Pause before responding. Don’t reply, follow a link, scan a QR code, open an attachment, or call a number supplied only in the message.
- Go to the organization independently. Open its official app or type its known web address yourself. For a phone call, use a number on your payment card or on the organization’s official website—not one in the message.
- Check for an official incident notice. Look for the organization’s current instructions and confirm whether it says your account or information may be affected. Follow those instructions for incident-specific steps.
- Ask the organization through a trusted channel. If the notice is unclear, contact it using independently found contact details. CISA’s phishing tip card likewise advises contacting the company directly by phone when in doubt. Read CISA’s Phishing Tip Card.
What to do with a suspicious email or text
- Don’t engage. Avoid replying, clicking, opening attachments, or using an unsubscribe link. CISA advises: “Delete the message. Don’t reply or click on any attachment or link, including any ‘unsubscribe’ link.”
- Report it. Use your email or messaging service’s report-spam or report-phishing function. If it impersonates an organization you trust, alert that organization using contact information from its official site.
- Delete it after reporting. Keep a copy only if it is needed for an official complaint or an account investigation. Don’t forward a suspicious message to others as a warning.
If you clicked a link or shared information
Act on what may have been exposed; no single step can undo information already disclosed or guarantee it will not be misused.
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- If an account may be compromised: Contact the bank, store, or credit-card company that owns the account using a trusted channel. Follow its instructions for securing the account.
- If you entered a password: From a different computer that you control, change the password for the affected service and for any other accounts where you reused it. Use a strong, unique password for each account.
- If you suspect identity theft: Use the official recovery guidance at IdentityTheft.gov.
- If the incident may involve a breached organization: Contact it through independently verified details and follow its current incident-specific instructions.
CISA’s general account guidance also advises contacting the relevant bank, store, or card company and changing affected passwords using a different computer you control. Read CISA’s guidance on personal internet-enabled devices.
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Turn on multifactor authentication
Multifactor authentication (MFA) requires more than one way to verify your identity. Enable it where available, prioritizing email and financial accounts; access to email can affect password resets and other linked services. Check whether your email provider, bank, and healthcare provider offer MFA. CISA explains how to turn on MFA.
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Use unique passwords
A strong, unique password for each account limits the damage if one password is exposed. A password manager can help you manage distinct credentials. If a password was exposed or reused, change it on the affected accounts; there is no need to change every password on an arbitrary schedule. CISA’s account-security guidance includes strong passwords and password managers.
Consider a security key if your account supports it
A physical FIDO security key is one possible MFA method, and CISA recommends that businesses aim for phishing-resistant MFA. Before choosing a key, check that your specific service supports it and consider how you would recover access if the key were lost. Compatibility and recovery options vary by account. Read CISA’s guidance on requiring MFA.
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