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After a data breach, scammers may use stolen details or the breach itself to make fake emails and texts seem believable. Don’t trust a message just because it names the affected company or includes information about you. Verify it through a channel you find independently, and never use a suspicious message’s link, phone number, QR code, or attachment to do so.
Why phishing attempts may follow a breach
Phishing is a deceptive message designed to get you to reveal information, visit a malicious site, open a harmful attachment, or give an attacker access. A breach can give scammers personal details that make an impersonation feel timely or authentic.
In a September 2017 alert about the Equifax breach, CISA relayed warnings that scam emails or calls might claim to be from Equifax and that phishing volume often increases after major breaches. The alert also noted that stolen data can make messages more credible. This is a historical warning, not a current measurement or a guarantee that every breach will lead to a surge: CISA’s archived Equifax alert.
How to recognize a suspicious message
Check the message for several clues rather than relying on its logo, tone, or apparent knowledge of your situation. CISA’s 2024 phishing tip sheet highlights:
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- A sender address that does not match the organization the message claims to represent.
- A shortened or otherwise untrusted link.
- Urgent or emotionally pressuring language that pushes you to act immediately.
- A request for personal, account, or financial information.
- An unexpected attachment.
- Poor writing, misspellings, or other inconsistencies. CISA notes that poor writing is less common, so polished wording does not prove a message is genuine.
A detail that is correct—such as your name, a recent transaction, or the company involved in a breach—is not proof of identity. Scammers may have obtained enough information to personalize a convincing impersonation. See CISA’s Avoid Phishing Scams with Three Simple Tips.
How to verify a breach notice safely
- Stop before acting. Don’t reply, click a link, open an attachment, scan a QR code, or call a number supplied only in the message.
- Open a trusted route yourself. Use the organization’s app, type its known web address into your browser, or find its official website independently. Look there for a notice or instructions about the incident.
- Contact the organization using independently found details. Use a phone number on an official website or on your card—not a number in the suspicious message. CISA’s Phishing Tip Card recommends contacting the company directly by phone when in doubt.
- Follow the verified incident instructions. If the organization confirms a breach or account issue, use its official guidance for affected customers rather than following directions in an unverified message.
What to do with a suspicious email or text
- Don’t reply, click any link, open an attachment, or use an unsubscribe link.
- Report the message with your email or messaging service’s spam or phishing reporting feature.
- If it impersonates a trusted organization, alert that organization through contact details found on its official website.
- Delete the message after reporting. Keep a copy only if it is needed for an official complaint or an account investigation; don’t forward it to other people as a warning.
CISA’s 2024 tip sheet puts the handling advice plainly: “Delete the message. Don’t reply or click on any attachment or link, including any ‘unsubscribe’ link.”
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If you clicked a link or shared information
Act promptly, but don’t assume that a single step can undo data exposure or prevent every misuse. Use contact details you find independently, not those in the suspicious message.
- If a bank, store, or card account may be affected, contact the institution that owns it through a trusted channel and follow its instructions.
- If you entered a password, change it for the affected service and for any other account where you reused it. Use a different computer that you control to make the changes, as CISA advises. Set a unique password for each account.
- If you suspect identity theft, use the official U.S. government recovery resource IdentityTheft.gov.
- If the breached organization has issued a notice, contact it using its official website or another independently verified channel and follow its incident-specific steps.
CISA’s device and account recovery guidance advises contacting the affected bank, store, or credit-card company and changing passwords from a different computer you control.
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- Helps protect your accounts from phishing and other cyber-attacks. Prevents your devices from unauthorized use.
Make important accounts harder to take over
Turn on multifactor authentication
Multifactor authentication (MFA) requires more than one way to verify your identity at sign-in. Enable it where available, prioritizing email and financial accounts; email access can affect password recovery for other services. Check whether your email provider, bank, and healthcare provider offer MFA. CISA explains the basics in Turn On MFA.
Use unique passwords
Use a strong, different password for each account. A password manager can help you create and manage unique credentials. If a password was exposed in a breach—or reused on an affected account—change it on the affected and reused accounts rather than relying on an arbitrary schedule. CISA’s MFA guidance also discusses password protection.
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- THALES: We offer a wide range of FIDO authenticators, providing robust, phishing-resistant MFA that comply with stringent regulations. With almost three decades of experience, Thales is a pioneer in passwordless authentication devices, supported globally by the FIDO Alliance and industry analysts
Consider a security key if your accounts support it
A physical FIDO security key is one possible MFA method, and CISA identifies physical security keys as an option for phishing-resistant MFA. Before choosing one, check that each account you need to protect supports the key and that you have a workable recovery method if it is lost. CISA’s MFA guidance for businesses describes security keys; it does not establish compatibility across consumer services or rank specific devices.
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