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I think someone accessed my account without permission

Read this first if you suspect your account was accessed by someone other than you.

I think someone accessed my account without permission

Read this first if you suspect your account was accessed by someone other than you.

TL;DR — do these 4 things right now

  1. Enable 2FA if not already enabled (same page)

  2. Sign out of all devices: Account Settings → Security → "Sign out of all devices"

  3. Email [email protected] with what happened — we respond within 1 business hour

Then come back and read the rest of this article.

Signs of unauthorized access

Common indicators someone else has accessed your account:

Sign-in indicators

  • You see a sign-in from a city / country you've never been to (Account Settings → Security → Sign-in history)

  • You see a device type you don't own (e.g., you only use Mac/iPhone but there's a Windows sign-in)

  • You get a sign-in confirmation email you didn't trigger

  • Your password "doesn't work anymore" (someone changed it)

Activity indicators

  • Documents you don't recognize in your portal

  • Filings you didn't request

  • Payment methods you didn't add

  • Profile changes (name, email, address you didn't make)

  • Communication preferences changed

  • 2FA enabled/disabled without your action

External indicators

  • A bank flagged a charge from FormationHub you didn't authorize

  • You received a confirmation email for an order you didn't place

  • A state filing happened in your name without your knowledge

What to do (detailed steps)

Step 1: Secure access

Even if you can still sign in, the attacker might still have access. Lock them out:

  1. Account Settings → Security

  2. Change password to something completely new (don't reuse from any other site)

  3. Sign out of all devices (kicks out any active session that isn't your current one)

  4. Enable 2FA with an authenticator app — this is the most important step

If you can't sign in because the password was changed: - Click "Forgot password" → reset link sent to your email - If your email was also changed: you need to recover via support (email [email protected])

Step 2: Notify us

Email [email protected] with: - Your account email - When you noticed something was wrong - What specifically looked suspicious (sign-ins from unfamiliar locations, unauthorized changes, etc.) - Whether you've already secured access (changed password + enabled 2FA) - Phone number we can reach you at

We will: - Acknowledge within 1 business hour during business hours - Pull your sign-in logs and activity history - Identify any unauthorized changes - Roll back unauthorized changes (within 30 days of the change, where possible) - Investigate the source — if it's a leaked password from another site, we'll let you know; if it's something on our end, we'll fix it

Step 3: Audit your other accounts

Most account takeovers are NOT because of a FormationHub breach (we've never had one). They're usually because: - You reused the FormationHub password somewhere else, and that other site got breached - A phishing email tricked you into entering your credentials on a fake site

While the attacker had access to FormationHub, they may have also tried: - Your email account - Your bank accounts - Other business / productivity services using the same email + password

Action: change passwords on every important service that shares an email with your FormationHub account. Especially: - Your email (Gmail, Outlook, etc.) - Your bank / financial accounts - Government services (IRS account if you have one) - Other business services (QuickBooks, Stripe Dashboard, etc.)

Use a password manager going forward so each site has a unique password.

Step 4: Monitor your statements

For 30-90 days after the incident, monitor: - Credit card / bank statements for unauthorized charges - Payment receipts from FormationHub (if you see charges that aren't yours, report immediately) - Your business bank account for unauthorized transactions - Your email inbox for confirmations of services you didn't sign up for

If you see anything suspicious, report it to the relevant service AND to us.

Step 5: Consider a credit freeze

If the attacker accessed your SSN or other identifying info (e.g., from your BOI filing):

  • Freeze your credit at all three bureaus:

  • Equifax: 800-685-1111

  • Experian: 888-397-3742

  • TransUnion: 800-680-7289

  • Frozen credit prevents new accounts being opened in your name

  • You can temporarily lift the freeze when you need to apply for credit yourself

Free at all three bureaus.

What we do in response

When you report unauthorized access:

Immediate (within 1 business hour)

  • Pull sign-in logs for your account

  • Identify the timing + IP address of suspicious activity

  • Lock the account if not already secured by you

  • Disable any active sessions

Within 24 hours

  • Email you a summary of what we found

  • List any unauthorized changes we identified

  • Roll back changes where possible (e.g., revert a profile change, cancel an unauthorized filing if still pre-state-submission)

  • Issue a refund for unauthorized charges

Within 7 days

  • Full incident report with what happened, what we did, what we recommend

  • If our systems were involved (rare), root-cause analysis + remediation plan

  • If your credentials were compromised elsewhere (more common), guidance on which other accounts to secure

What we CAN'T undo

  • LLC filings that have been accepted by the state (we'd help you file Articles of Dissolution if you want to undo)

  • EIN applications that have been processed by the IRS (we'd help with EIN cancellation paperwork)

  • Mail scans we delivered — these are already in your portal, but the attacker may have already viewed them

  • Funds the attacker withdrew via our payment processor (disputes via your card issuer)

Filing reports

For serious incidents:

  • FTC: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov — file a complaint, get a recovery plan

  • FBI IC3: https://www.ic3.gov — for cybercrime reporting (especially with financial loss)

  • State attorney general: many states have consumer protection offices for identity theft

  • Local police: file a police report for identity theft (some banks require this for fraud claims)

Preventing future incidents

After resolving this one:

  • ✅ Enable 2FA on every important account (FormationHub, email, banks, etc.)

  • ✅ Use a password manager with unique passwords per site

  • ✅ Don't reuse FormationHub credentials anywhere else

  • ✅ Use a recovery email that you control and have secured

  • ✅ Review sign-in history monthly: Account Settings → Security → Sign-in history

  • ✅ Be skeptical of email links — sign in directly via https://www.formationhub.com/member

Common questions

"Was FormationHub hacked?"

We've never had a data breach. Account takeovers are typically due to credentials leaked elsewhere (other site breaches, phishing, malware) and used to try logging into multiple services.

If we ever DID have a breach, we'd notify affected customers within 72 hours of confirmation, per our security commitment.

"Will my LLC be okay?"

Almost always yes. We can roll back unauthorized changes within our system. State filings are harder to reverse but possible.

"Can I sue someone for accessing my account?"

We can provide IP-address logs that may help law enforcement identify the attacker. Successful prosecution depends on jurisdiction and the attacker's location.

"Will you cover damages?"

For damages caused by our systems (e.g., a vulnerability on our end), yes. For damages caused by your credentials being stolen elsewhere, we help with recovery but the financial responsibility is between you and the originating breach.

"Should I close my account and start fresh?"

Usually not necessary. Securing access + enabling 2FA is sufficient for most incidents. If you want a fresh start anyway, see Closing your account.

Next steps right now

  1. Enable 2FA: same page

  2. Sign out of all devices: same page

We treat unauthorized-access reports as the highest priority. You'll hear back within 1 business hour during business hours.

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