I got a call about a credit card I didn't apply for. During the call, I ended up giving them a verification code (you know, that '8790' type) without really thinking. They also asked for my birth date and where I live. After hanging up, I felt uneasy and now I'm worried I may have been hacked. Should I take any action to protect myself? What steps do you recommend for someone in my situation? Thanks for the help!
5 Answers
A few things to consider: someone could have applied for a credit card under your name. Check your credit report and consider locking your credit. If you know the bank, reach out to them immediately to cancel before a card gets issued. Also, watch for any mail, as they might try to intercept it for the card. You can even hold your mail at the post office for extra security.
It's hard to say for sure if you're compromised, but if you use that verification code for any of your accounts, it's a good idea to change those passwords immediately.
If you're worried about security, definitely consider monitoring your accounts for suspicious activity.
I’ve heard about scammers using Google phone numbers to trick people. They typically need that verification code plus some personal info to make it work. The best course of action now is to change all your passwords and never share 2FA codes over the phone again.
Never give those codes out to anyone. It’s likely they used it to access your accounts. They may already have your password, and the call was just a way to get more info. Check where that verification code was sent from, as they might have logged into something already.
What exactly did the message say when you got the verification code? That might help clarify things.
It said: 'To verify your phone number, show this code to the operator: 1700'.
Thanks for the advice! What else should I be on the lookout for?