What Happens When a Scammer Has Your Email Address? Prevention - Signs You're Hacked - Recovery

While your email address might not seem that valuable, scammers can extract a lot of information that they can use against you. Below are some things they can do with your email address information:

• Scammers Can Impersonate You
• Send Phishing Emails
• Scammers Can Access Your Online Accounts

How to Protect Your Email Address from Scammers?

• Using Robust Passwords
• Set Up Multi-Factor Authentication
• Update Your Device’s Security Software
• Enable Dark Web Monitoring

Signs Your Email Account Has Been Hacked

• You can’t log in to your account
• Strange messages pop up on your social media accounts
• Your family members or friends are receiving emails you didn’t send
• Your sent-message folder contains spammy messages you don’t remember writing

How to Help Recover Your Email Account from a Scammer

• If you can still access your account, change your login credentials immediately
• Inform your friends and family members about the hack so they don’t fall for the scams sent by the hackers
• Contact your banks and credit providers if you have sensitive financial information in your inbox. They can help prevent unauthorized access to your account.
• Seek the help of an identity and credit monitoring service like IdentityIQ to help protect you. This service can provide real-time fraud and Social Security number alerts, the dark web and internet monitoring, and even identity theft insurance. Plus, protection plans are affordable.
• If you’re completely locked out of your account, contact your email provider for advice on how to recover and protect your account.