Identity Theft

Someone stealing your identity can devastate your finances and take years to fully resolve. Prevention starts here.

$52B

lost to identity theft globally in a single year

15M

people fall victim to identity theft each year

6 mo

average time to fully resolve an identity theft case

What Is Identity Theft?

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information - name, national ID number, bank details, or date of birth - without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.

Thieves use stolen identities to open credit cards, take out loans, file fraudulent tax returns, access bank accounts and even commit crimes in your name. The financial and emotional damage can be severe.

In Bermuda's small community, identity fraud can also damage personal and professional reputations in ways that are hard to fully repair.

How Thieves Steal Your Identity

Data breaches

Hackers break into company databases and steal millions of records at once — your data may be exposed without you doing anything wrong.

Phishing attacks

Deceptive emails or texts trick you into entering your details on a fake website that looks legitimate.

Social media oversharing

Publicly visible birthdates, addresses, phone numbers and ID details give thieves everything they need.

Unsecured Wi-Fi

Criminals intercept data transmitted over public or poorly secured networks.

Physical theft

Stolen wallets, mail, or documents containing personal information used to open accounts fraudulently.

SIM swapping

Criminals convince your mobile carrier to transfer your phone number to their SIM, gaining access to two-factor authentication codes.

Malware and spyware

Malicious software installed on your device secretly captures keystrokes, passwords and personal data.

Warning Signs Your Identity May Have Been Stolen

Many victims do not discover the theft for months. Watch for these early warning signs.

Unexpected bills or statements

Receiving bills for accounts or purchases you do not recognise

Declined transactions

Cards or accounts being declined when you know funds are available

Unfamiliar accounts on credit reports

Loans or credit cards appearing that you never applied for

Missing expected mail

Regular statements or correspondence suddenly stopping — may indicate redirected mail

Unknown login attempts

Email alerts for logins from unfamiliar devices or locations

IRS or tax notices

Tax filings rejected because one was already submitted in your name

Debt collectors calling

Being contacted for debts relating to accounts you did not open

Social media impersonation

Someone creating fake profiles in your name and reaching out to your contacts

Prevention: Protect Yourself Now

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Use strong, unique passwords for every account — use a password manager

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Enable two-factor authentication on all accounts, especially email and banking

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Shred documents containing personal information before discarding them

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Monitor your bank and credit card statements weekly for unusual activity

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Be cautious about what personal information you share online and in person

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Use a credit monitoring service to receive alerts about new accounts

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Never carry unnecessary ID documents — leave your passport at home unless needed

If Your Identity Is Stolen

Contact your bank immediately

Freeze affected accounts and dispute fraudulent charges — time is critical.

Report to CyberTips and police

File a report with CyberTips (1-441-777-0875) and the Bermuda Police Service to create an official record.

Notify all relevant institutions

Alert your bank, employer, utilities and any other organisations that may have been affected.

Change all passwords

Start with your email — it is the gateway to resetting every other account.

Place a fraud alert

Contact credit reference agencies to flag your record so lenders are alerted to verify your identity before granting credit.

Document everything

Keep a log of all calls, dates, reference numbers and steps taken during your recovery process.