A Victorian schoolteacher was applying for ‘heaps of rentals’ online – then someone accessed his bank account

Michael suspects personal information he submitted to rent application platforms was leaked online. And analysis shows millions of documents may also be at risk

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

Michael* has spent the past two months trying to get his digital identity back.

The 47-year-old Victorian schoolteacher was in the process of moving to a new town and applying for rental properties online. Around this time – and unbeknown to him – his mobile phone number was transferred to someone else.