Recovering from Economic Abuse

Staying safe involves protecting your digital privacy, financial security, and overall wellbeing. These steps can help you recognise abuse, plan for safety, and stay in control.

Please see Refuge Tech Safety for in-depth safety planning around your devices and online accounts – Information and support on tech abuse | Refuge Tech Safety

Recognise and Assess the Abuse

• If it feels safe to do so, you might choose to keep a record of what’s happening (for example, noting dates or incidents of financial control or surveillance).

Remember: Only do this in a way that does not put you at risk. If you are worried that your phone, email, iCloud, or online accounts might be monitored or accessed by someone else, do not keep records on devices or accounts they could reach. A support service can help you think through safe options.

• Notice patterns: are you being followed, interrupted at work, or losing access to money or devices after certain arguments or events?
• Assess your risk: are there escalating behaviours? Does the abuser have access to your passwords, devices, or finances?

Secure Your Devices and Accounts

Depending on whether or not you are living with the person who is harming you, you may choose to take different steps. Remember that some actions you take to increase your security, or privacy might alert an abuser, and they might escalate their abusive behaviour. It may not be safe to take any action now.

• Create new email and social media accounts not connected to shared devices or known contact information.

Remember: This may not be safe on your current device.

• If you’re worried someone is monitoring your phone, use a safe device to contact Refuge’s 24h National Domestic Abuse Helpline (Freephone) on 0808 2000 247. A safer device might be another phone from a trusted friend, family, or a neighbour, or a computer in a library, school, or workplace.
• Change the password for your online account.
• Set up the lock or passcode on your phone.
• Turn off location sharing.
• Check your apps. Delete any you don’t use. Check location and privacy settings and change passwords.
• Block harassing numbers.
• Check which people and devices are linked to your account and remove unwanted connections.
• Change the password for your online accounts, including email, apps, websites, and payment methods that are connected to your account. Remove any unused or unwanted connections.
• Turn off “find my device” and location sharing.
• Check which apps, websites, and payment methods are connected to your account, and remove any unused or unwanted connections.
• Use privacy and security checkup tools offered by the companies.

If You Suspect Monitoring

• Use a safe device (library computer, friend’s phone, or advocate’s office) to look for support or change passwords.

Remember: It may not be safe to do this.

• Do not confront the abuser about tech abuse as doing so could increase risk.
• Consider doing a factory reset on your device only if it will not escalate danger.
• Use encrypted apps for sensitive communication.

Smart Tech and Internet of Things (IoT)

• Check or reset passwords for smart home devices such as cameras, speakers, and thermostats.
• Temporarily unplug or turn off suspicious devices.
• Ask a trusted tech-savvy person or advocate to help review smart systems in your home.

Remember: It may not be safe to do this if you are still living with your abuser.

Please see Refuge Tech Safety for in-depth safety planning around your devices and online accounts – Information and support on tech abuse | Refuge Tech Safety

Immediate Safety

If you are in danger, call 999. If you can’t speak, press 55 when prompted.

Some pharmacies, banks, building societies and other venues are registered with the Safe Spaces schemes, which allow you to ask for help discreetly. Not all pharmacies, banks, or public places are registered, so this may not be available everywhere.