My data have been leaked. What can I do?

Your personal data may fall into the wrong hands if an organisation becomes the victim of a data breach. For example, your telephone number, (email) address, or a copy of your identity document. This may have unpleasant consequences for you. That is why it is important to know what you can do.

Prevent abuse and (identity) fraud

Did you receive a message from an organisation about a data breach? Or do you suspect yourself that your data have been leaked? Take action immediately:

• Have your email address and password been leaked? Change your password(s) as soon as possible. Tip: use different passwords and store them in a password manager. Use multifactor authentication wherever possible.
• Has your email address or telephone number been leaked? Be alert to suspicious emails, text messages and telephone calls. Criminals can use leaked data to make a message look very reliable. Check carefully, therefore, who you are dealing with. Do not just click on a link. And never give your password or PIN code to anybody.
• Has (a copy of) your identity document been leaked? Prevent identity fraud. Make a report to your municipality first. You can apply for a new identity document then. Do you receive messages about purchases that were not made by you? Or do you see strange debits on your account statement? Report this to the police and the Central Reporting Centre for Identity Fraud (CMI).