What Is the BILLY Guide?
The BILLY Guide is here to help (elderly) people stay safe online.
It’s a step-by-step guide designed to protect you from identity theft, help you recover if it happens, and show you how to safely connect with banks, government services, and other websites.
We created BILLY to be clear, comforting, and easy to follow—even if you're not very familiar with technology.
BILLY is an easy way to remember what to do if you think your identity has been stolen:
B – Block any more unauthorized access
I – Investigate what happened
L – List any accounts or personal information that may be affected
L – Limit future risk with alerts and monitoring
Y – Yield to Caution
Identity theft can be scary and stressful.
So BILLY is also a reminder to take care of your emotional well-being:
B – Breathe – stay calm and take things one step at a time
I – It will be alright – most companies have ways to protect you and fix the damage
L – Look out for each other – check in with your spouse, family, or friends
L – Lean on others – ask a trusted person to help you if needed
Y – You're not alone – the BILLY team is here to support you
My name is Martijn Loderus and I work in Cyber Security and Identity Management. I started this guide after some of my elderly loved ones became victims of identity theft.
At the time, they didn’t know where to turn or what steps to take.
It was confusing and overwhelming. I created BILLY Guide to change that.
By the way—Billy was 95 years old when he experienced identity theft.
This guide is named in his honor.
Use the BILLY Guide when you:
The guide offers question-and-answer sections with simple instructions and helpful step-by-step plans. It also includes contact details for each major organization or website you may need to reach out to. As this is interactive, you can also create an account, ask your question and we will go and find the answers. Join us now!
If you ever feel unsure, just remember:
BILLY is here to help you feel safe, supported, and in control.
