Back to Situations

Reporting a Hacked Account

The user believes their social media account has been hacked or compromised by an unauthorized person, and they need to report it to the platform's support team for recovery.

Dialogue

Listen and follow along with the conversation

1
Sarah (Female)
Hi, I need help. I think my account has been hacked.
2
John (Male)
I understand, Sarah. Can you please tell me what makes you believe your account was compromised?
3
Sarah (Female)
Yes, I received an email about a password change I didn't make, and then I couldn't log in at all. Plus, some strange posts appeared on my feed.
4
John (Male)
Okay, that definitely sounds like a security breach. Have you tried the 'Forgot Password' option?
5
Sarah (Female)
I did, but it says the email associated with the account has been changed.
6
John (Male)
Understood. We'll need to go through our account recovery process. To verify your identity, can you tell me a recent activity on your account that only you would know?
7
Sarah (Female)
Sure, I posted a photo of my dog, Max, yesterday afternoon, around 3 PM.
8
John (Male)
Thank you for that information. I'm initiating the recovery. Please keep an eye on your alternate email for further instructions.

Vocabulary

Essential words and phrases from the dialogue

hacked

When someone gains unauthorized access to your online account, often to steal information or post without permission. Use this word when reporting a security issue on social media.

compromised

Means your account's security has been broken, allowing others to access it. It's a formal way to describe when your privacy or data is at risk.

log in

To enter your username and password to access an account. It's a common phrasal verb used daily for apps and websites.

feed

The main page on social media where you see updates, posts, and news from friends or followed accounts. Useful for describing what you see on platforms like Facebook or Twitter.

security breach

An incident where someone's account or system is illegally accessed, breaking security rules. Use it in customer support to explain problems formally.

account recovery

The process to regain access to your account after it's been locked or hacked. It's a key phrase when contacting support for help.

verify identity

To prove that you are the real owner of the account, often by answering questions. Common in online support to prevent fraud.

alternate email

A secondary email address used as a backup for account notifications. It's important to set one up for recovery purposes.

Key Sentences

Important phrases to remember and practice

Hi, I need help. I think my account has been hacked.

This is a polite way to start a support conversation, using 'I think' to express suspicion softly. Useful for beginners to report urgent issues; the simple present perfect 'has been hacked' shows a recent action with ongoing effects.

Can you please tell me what makes you believe your account was compromised?

A question from support to gather details, using 'what makes you believe' to ask for reasons. It's useful for customer service roles; note the past passive 'was compromised' for describing past events.

I received an email about a password change I didn't make, and then I couldn't log in at all.

This explains symptoms of a hack using coordination with 'and' for multiple events. Practical for describing problems; 'couldn't log in' uses modal 'could' in negative past for inability.

That definitely sounds like a security breach.

An empathetic response acknowledging the issue, with 'definitely' for emphasis. Use it to confirm suspicions in conversations; 'sounds like' is a common idiom for opinions based on evidence.

Have you tried the 'Forgot Password' option?

A troubleshooting question using present perfect 'have you tried' for recent actions. Essential for tech support; it helps guide users step-by-step.

To verify your identity, can you tell me a recent activity on your account that only you would know?

This requests proof using infinitive 'to verify' for purpose. Useful in security contexts; 'that only you would know' is a relative clause specifying unique information.

I'm initiating the recovery. Please keep an eye on your alternate email for further instructions.

Announces action with present continuous 'I'm initiating' for ongoing process, and imperative 'keep an eye on' as an idiom meaning 'watch carefully.' Practical for ending support calls positively.