Lost your job: money checklist for the first two weeks
What to claim, what to pause and what to sign, day by day, when your income stops.
25 itemsStart
Card stolen or banking hacked: what to do now
Stop the money moving first, then report it and get your accounts back.
In the next 10 minutes (6)
- Freeze the card in your bank app, or call the number on the back of the card
- If the app is hacked, call from another phoneUse the number on the bank's website or your card, never one from a text.
- Tell the bank about every payment you do not recognise
- Ask them to block online banking and new payees for now
- India: call the cyber fraud helpline 1930 as soon as you canThe sooner, the better the chance of holding the money.Open
- UK: call 159 to reach your bank's fraud team
Watch out for second scams (4)
- Never share a PIN, password or OTP, even with someone who says they are the bank
- Hang up and call back yourself if someone calls about this fraud
- Do not move money to a "safe account"
- Do not pay anyone who promises to recover the money for a fee
Today: take your accounts back (5)
- Change the banking, email and phone provider passwords, from a clean device
- Sign out of all other devices
- Turn on two-step sign in
- Check for new payees, standing orders and changed contact details
- No phone signal suddenly? Call your mobile provider and ask about a SIM swap
Report it and keep the proof (5)
- US: report at IdentityTheft.gov and get a recovery planOpen
- India: file at cybercrime.gov.in, and tell the bank in writingUnder RBI rules, reporting third-party fraud within 3 working days can mean zero liability.
- Write down the date, the time, who you talked to and any reference numbers
- Save screenshots of messages and transactions
- File a police report if your card or wallet was taken
Over the next weeks (5)
- US: know how much you can be chargedCredit card: up to $50. Debit card: up to $50 if reported within 2 business days, up to $500 within 60 days.
- Check the last 3 months of statements for small test charges
- US: freeze your credit at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, free of charge
- Update the new card on your subscriptions and auto-pays
- Follow up if there is no refund or answer in 10 working days
Written from www.identitytheft.gov