First: Do Not Panic
If you have been scammed, take a deep breath. You are not alone, and you are not foolish. Millions of smart, careful people fall victim to scams every year. Today's scams are sophisticated, convincing, and designed by professional criminals who do this full-time.
What matters now is acting quickly and methodically. The faster you take the right steps, the better your chances of limiting the damage and recovering your money.
This guide walks you through exactly what to do, in order of priority, over the next 24 hours. Follow each step as it applies to your situation. Not every step will apply to every scam, so focus on the ones that are relevant to you.
Did you know? According to the FTC, people who reported scams quickly (within 24 hours) were significantly more likely to recover some or all of their money compared to those who waited days or weeks.
Keep this in mind: The shame and embarrassment you may feel are exactly what scammers count on. They want you to stay quiet and not report the crime. By taking action, you are fighting back and helping protect others from the same scam.
First 30 Minutes: Stop the Bleeding
The first 30 minutes are the most critical. Your goal right now is to stop any further losses. Do these steps immediately:
If You Gave Out Credit or Debit Card Information
- Call your bank or credit card company immediately. The number is on the back of your card. Tell them you have been a victim of fraud and need to freeze or cancel your card.
- Ask them to reverse any recent fraudulent charges. They can often do this while you are on the phone.
- Request a new card with a new number.
If You Gave Out Bank Account Information
- Call your bank's fraud department (use the number on their website, not any number a scammer gave you).
- Ask them to freeze your account to prevent any unauthorized transfers.
- Ask about opening a new account and transferring your legitimate funds.
If You Gave Out Login Passwords
- Change the password immediately for the compromised account by going directly to the website.
- Change the password on any other account where you used the same password.
- Change your email password since your email is used to reset other passwords.
- Enable two-factor authentication on all accounts if you have not already.
If You Sent Gift Cards
Call the gift card company (the number is on the back of the card or receipt) and report the card as stolen. While recovery is difficult with gift cards, sometimes the funds can be frozen if you act quickly enough.
If You Sent a Wire Transfer
Contact your bank or the wire transfer service (Western Union, MoneyGram) immediately to request a recall. Time is critical because once money is picked up, it is very difficult to recover.
Warning: Do not send additional money to "recover" what was stolen. Scammers often contact victims again claiming they can get the money back for a fee. This is always a second scam.
First 2 Hours: Document Everything
Once you have stopped the immediate financial exposure, take time to gather and save all evidence. This documentation will be critical for reports, disputes, and potential recovery.
What to Save
- Screenshots: Take screenshots of any emails, text messages, website pages, social media messages, or ads related to the scam. On a computer, press the "Print Screen" key. On a phone, press the power button and volume button at the same time.
- Emails: Do not delete any emails from the scammer. Forward them to your own email as a backup.
- Transaction records: Save receipts, bank statements, transaction confirmations, and any records of money you sent.
- Phone numbers and names: Write down any phone numbers that called you, names used by the scammer, and any web addresses you visited.
- Timeline: Write a brief timeline of events: when you were first contacted, what was said, when you sent money, and what happened after.
Create a Scam Folder
Create a folder on your computer or use a physical folder to keep all scam-related documents together. Label it clearly with the date and type of scam. You will need these records when filing reports.
Tip: If the scam happened by phone, check your phone's call history and write down the exact dates, times, and phone numbers of all calls. This information helps investigators track down scammers.
First 24 Hours: Report the Scam
Reporting the scam serves two purposes: it starts the official process of investigating and potentially recovering your money, and it helps law enforcement track and shut down scam operations. File these reports within 24 hours if possible.
1. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The FTC is the primary government agency for consumer fraud.
- Online: Visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov and fill out the online form
- Phone: Call 1-877-382-4357 (1-877-FTC-HELP)
- This report goes into a database used by thousands of law enforcement agencies
2. FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
For internet-related fraud, file a complaint with the FBI's IC3.
- Online: Visit ic3.gov and click "File a Complaint"
- Provide as much detail as possible, including dollar amounts and how you were contacted
3. Your State Attorney General
Your state attorney general's office handles consumer protection at the state level.
- Find yours: Visit naag.org/find-my-ag or search "[your state] attorney general consumer complaint"
- Many states have online complaint forms
4. Local Police
File a police report with your local police department. While local police may not investigate online fraud directly, a police report is often required by banks and credit card companies to process fraud claims.
- Visit your local police station or call the non-emergency number
- Bring your documentation folder with all evidence
- Get a copy of the police report number for your records
5. The Platform Where the Scam Happened
If the scam happened on a specific platform, report it there too:
- Amazon: Contact Amazon customer service and report the seller
- Facebook/Instagram: Report the profile, page, or ad as a scam
- eBay: Use the Resolution Center to report the transaction
- Payment apps (Venmo, Zelle, Cash App): Contact the app's fraud department
Tip: Filing multiple reports is not redundant. Each agency may have different tools and jurisdiction to investigate. The more reports filed about a scam operation, the more likely it is to be shut down.
Getting Your Money Back
Your chances of recovering money depend on how you paid. Here is what to expect for each payment method:
Credit Card
Best chance of recovery. Federal law limits your liability for fraudulent credit card charges to $50, and most card issuers offer zero-liability protection. Call your credit card company, explain the fraud, and request a chargeback. You will likely need to fill out a fraud affidavit.
Debit Card
Good chance if reported quickly. If you report within 2 business days, your liability is limited to $50. After 2 days but within 60 days, your liability increases to $500. After 60 days, you could be responsible for the full amount. Report immediately.
Bank Transfer or Wire
Difficult but possible if fast. Contact your bank immediately to request a recall of the wire transfer. The sooner you act, the better your chances. Once money has been picked up by the recipient, recovery becomes very unlikely.
Gift Cards
Very difficult to recover. Contact the gift card issuer and report the card numbers as stolen. Some companies (Apple, Google, Amazon) have fraud departments that may be able to help, but recovery is not guaranteed.
Cryptocurrency
Extremely difficult to recover. Cryptocurrency transactions are generally irreversible. Report to the exchange you used and to the FBI's IC3, but be cautious of "recovery services" that promise to get your cryptocurrency back, as many of these are also scams.
Cash or Money Order
Very unlikely to recover. If you mailed cash or a money order, contact the postal service and file a report, but recovery is rare.
Warning: Be extremely cautious of anyone who contacts you offering to recover your lost money for a fee. "Recovery scams" target people who have already been scammed once. No legitimate recovery service requires upfront payment.
Protecting Yourself Going Forward
After dealing with a scam, take these steps to strengthen your defenses and reduce the risk of being targeted again:
Place a Fraud Alert or Credit Freeze
If any personal information was compromised (Social Security number, date of birth, address), contact the three credit bureaus to protect your credit:
- Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 or equifax.com
- Experian: 1-888-397-3742 or experian.com
- TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 or transunion.com
A fraud alert (free, lasts one year) tells creditors to verify your identity before opening new accounts. A credit freeze (free, lasts until you lift it) prevents anyone from opening new accounts in your name. A credit freeze is the stronger protection.
Monitor Your Accounts
- Check bank and credit card statements weekly for at least 3 months
- Sign up for free credit monitoring at annualcreditreport.com
- Set up transaction alerts through your bank so you receive a notification for every purchase
Update Your Security
- Change passwords on all important accounts (use a password manager)
- Enable two-factor authentication wherever available
- Update your computer and phone software to the latest version
- Run a virus scan on your computer if you clicked any suspicious links
Tip: Consider signing up for the National Do Not Call Registry (donotcall.gov) to reduce scam phone calls. While it will not stop all calls, it reduces the volume significantly.
Emergency Contacts Reference Card
Print this section and keep it near your phone or computer. In an emergency, you will have the numbers you need right away.
Financial Emergencies
- Your bank's fraud department: [Write this number on the printed copy]
- Your credit card fraud line: [Write this number on the printed copy]
Government Reporting
- FTC Fraud Reporting: 1-877-382-4357 or ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- FBI IC3 (Internet Crime): ic3.gov
- Social Security Fraud: 1-800-269-0271 or oig.ssa.gov
- IRS Fraud: 1-800-366-4484
- USPS Mail Fraud: 1-877-876-2455 or uspis.gov
Credit Bureaus (Fraud Alert or Freeze)
- Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
- Experian: 1-888-397-3742
- TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
Identity Theft
- IdentityTheft.gov: The FTC's official recovery site (walks you through a personalized recovery plan)
- AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 1-877-908-3360 (free, available to anyone, not just AARP members)
Support
- AARP Fraud Watch Network: 1-877-908-3360 (trained volunteers who help scam victims)
- National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-372-8311 (run by the U.S. Department of Justice)
Tip: Fill in your bank and credit card fraud numbers on the printed version of this page right now, while you are thinking about it. In an emergency, you will not want to search for these numbers.