Yahoo - How to recover a lost password / How to regain control of a hacked account

popowich · Friday, December 12th, 2008

Hello,

Did you forget the password for your Yahoo mail account?
Has your Yahoo mail account been hacked?
Are you the victim of a phishing scam that resulted in you losing control of your Yahoo mail account?

There are a couple of options for you to try :

The first thing to try is the Yahoo sign in problems page. On this page there are guides that walk you through recovering your password including having a reset password link sent to the alternate account that you listed in your Yahoo settings.

If your account was hacked in the last 24hrs try the Classic Mail Account Restore Form or the New Yahoo Mail Account Restore Form.

There is also this Yahoo password recovery process - https://edit.yahoo.com/forgotroot/

Send an email to account-security-help@cc.yahoo-inc.com from your alternate email address and let them know the last time that you were able to access your account. You should receive an auto response asking for for more information including :

Yahoo! ID
Your name
Date of birth (mm-dd-yyyy)
Your alternate email address
Secret Question and Answer
Your city and state
ZIP Code or Postal code you entered during registration
Your country

Please be patient. It may be several days or longer before you get a response from Yahoo.

If you are not able to fix the problem with the Yahoo sign in problems page or waiting a reasonable amount of time for an email response then you can try calling the Yahoo client services number at 1.866.562.7219. The process will take longer over the phone than by using the link above. You may be asked for personal information such as faxing Yahoo a copy of your drivers license to prove your identity. Even though it takes longer, Yahoo should be able to help you regain control of your e-mail account.

After you get back access to your account -

Verify/update your password reset information within the account information settings including your alternate email addresses, cell phone numbers, and security questions and answers!

New! Secure your Yahoo Mail - Turn on Second Sign-In Verification

New! How to turn on SSL and secure your Yahoo Mail account

If your Yahoo account is important, you can protect the lost account or your new account with better support by signing up for Yahoo Mail Plus

irma aryasathiani · Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

I've tried it so many times.
But the one thing, when Yahoo ask me for verify my identity, i cannot remember what is my pet's name .. and a full detail about me.
Can u help me?
How can i get it back?
Please help me..

Regards,

Irma

popowich · Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Hi Irma,

Call Yahoo customer service at 1.866.562.7219. It may take some time, and they will likely make you fax them a copy of your drivers license to prove your identity, but in the end you should be able to regain control of your Yahoo account

irma aryasathiani · Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Is that a phone number of customer service or faximily's number?
Please .. can i contact it by fax number?
thank you

popowich · Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

It is the Yahoo customer service number. A fax as initial contact may be ignored.

I recommend calling Yahoo and not sending a fax until they are expecting one from you

asmaa · Monday, August 17th, 2009

some one hacked my mail and change my Password and my Information what i can do

popowich · Monday, August 17th, 2009

Hello,

Try some of the suggestions in the first post and let us know if you were able to solve the problem by calling and sending a fax copy of your drivers license after they are expecting it from you.

Welcome to Email Questions!

leantipode · Saturday, October 17th, 2009

No, this didn't work, try something again

popowich · Saturday, October 17th, 2009

You called 1.866.562.7219 and spoke with Yahoo that quickly?

Speak with them and if you are willing to prove your identity, for example faxing them a copy of your drivers license, they should be more than happy to help you.

Good luck!

leantipode · Saturday, October 17th, 2009

1.866.562.7219. how do l phone yahoo when lm in South Africa, l mean how do l dial

popowich · Saturday, October 17th, 2009

Here is how to dial a United States phone number from South Africa :

First dial "00" (this is the international prefix to dial outside of South Africa). Then dial "1" (this is the international code used to dial to the U.S.). Follow that by the area code and phone number

leantipode · Monday, October 19th, 2009

Someone is claiming to be Adrian , luckily my friend l had told about my account problem gave me this: how do l close my account permanently?
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: adrian mtetwa <antipodechem@yahoo.com>
To: antipodechem@yahoo.com
Sent: Tue, October 13, 2009 8:32:50 AM
Subject: Urgent Help Please

Am in a hurry writing you this note, Just wanted to seek your help on something very important, you are the only person i could reach at this point, and i hope you come to my aid.Because something very terrible is happening to me now, i need a favor from you now,I had a trip here in UK on a mission.

Unfortunately for me all my money got stolen on my way to the hotel where i lodged along with my bag were my passport was,And since then i have been without any money i am even owing the hotel here.

So i have limited access to emails for now, please i need you to lend me about 900Pounds so i can make arrangements and return back please,i have spoken to the embassy here but they are not responding to the matter effectively, I will return the money back to you as soon as i get home, I am so confused right now.
I will be waiting to hear from you.
Regards

Adrian Sehlule Mthethwa
Le Antipode Technology Solutions
101 Standard Bank House
20 Albert Street
Marshall town

Johannesburg, 2001

Email:antipodechem@yahoo.com

popowich · Monday, October 19th, 2009

Hello,

You can cancel your account using the Yahoo Account Termination Page : How to delete a yahoo account

hubertmulligan · Friday, September 2nd, 2011

Then you can make a new email account again. But how about the contacts there? I have important contacts which I send them an important documents using fax 2 email.

popowich · Friday, September 2nd, 2011

Yahoo has Actions -> Export Now functionality within the contacts.

I've never heard of anyone only asking for their contacts from a hacked account but if you can prove your identity (drivers license, etc) that might get asked for maybe they would export the contacts for you if it's not too late. If you are able to request that and it works please let us know.

and

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cityboy911 · Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

I have attempted all of these actions over a period of two months and none of them work. I have called yahoo so many time, only to get the automated system that just hangs up and I have tried password recovery, ,but nothing. I e-mailed yahoo my information and asked them to contact me and still nothing.

can someone give me some advice other than create another account?

popowich · Sunday, February 17th, 2013

Here are some newer Yahoo features that are good ideas to turn on after getting your account back:

These are good ideas (for everyone) to help protect their Yahoo accounts:

Secure your Yahoo Mail - Turn on Second Sign-In Verification

How to turn on SSL and secure your Yahoo Mail account

dilmana · Monday, March 4th, 2013

Hi, my friend has lost access to his yahoo email account. He has forgotten his secret question answer. Is there an email instead of a phone number so he can verify that he is the person to which the yahoo email is? Please write asap, if u prefer u can write to me to my email: XXXgmail.com. I would really appreaciate the help.

popowich · Monday, March 4th, 2013

Hi dilmana,

Your friend will need to try the options in this post:

Yahoo - How to recover a lost password / How to regain control of a hacked account

It's not likely that Yahoo will work with a 3rd party to recover an account.

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