Criminals Were Selling Stolen Bank Information Online. What You Need to Know

Federal prosecutors have charged a man from Algeria with running two illegal websites that sold stolen credit card numbers, bank account information, and tools to trick people into giving up their passwords. These websites operated like online stores, but instead of selling normal products, they sold information stolen from people's bank accounts and custom-built fake websites designed to look like real banks. If you bank with a major American bank, your information could potentially have been bought and sold on these sites. The tools sold on these marketplaces were specifically designed to target customers of major U.S. banks.

While we don't know exactly which banks or how many people were affected, this case shows how criminals actively trade stolen financial information.

Here's what you should do right now:

1. Check your bank and credit card statements for any charges you don't recognize, even small ones. Criminals often test stolen cards with tiny purchases first.
2. Set up account alerts with your bank to get text or email notifications for every transaction over a dollar amount you choose.
3. Never click links in emails claiming to be from your bank. Instead, type your bank's website address directly into your browser or use their official app.
4. If you see anything suspicious, call your bank immediately using the phone number on the back of your card. To stay protected long term, consider freezing your credit with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). This free service prevents criminals from opening new accounts in your name. Enable two-factor authentication on all your financial accounts if available. This adds an extra security step beyond just your password, making it much harder for criminals to access your accounts even if they have your login information.