How Exposed Personal Data Fuels Identity Theft and Scams

Publicly exposed details such as your name, birth date, address history and phone number can help scammers personalize messages and attempt impersonation. Broker data is one possible source, not the only cause of identity theft.

Common attacks that start with broker data

Phishing and smishing: scammers use your real details to make messages look legitimate.

SIM swapping: with your phone number and personal details, criminals can convince a carrier to move your number to their device.

Security-question guessing: past addresses and relatives' names are common answers to account recovery questions.

Reducing your risk

Freeze your credit, use unique passwords with a password manager, turn on app-based two-factor authentication, and remove your profile from data broker sites so there's less information for attackers to work with.