What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed

Act Now — Direct Links

Open these in new tabs while you still have momentum. External links go to official agencies and tools; ScanBeyond links keep you on verified help paths.

First Hour: Stop the Damage

1. 1
   End contact. Block the number, email, profile, or chat. Do not argue or negotiate.
2. 2
   Stop any pending payment. Cancel transfers, dispute card charges, or ask the store/gift-card issuer to freeze unused value immediately.
3. 3
   If you gave remote access, disconnect from the internet, uninstall remote tools, and restart the device before changing passwords. See tech support recovery steps.
4. 4
   Tell one trusted person. A second set of eyes reduces panic decisions and follow-on mistakes.
5. 5
   File the FTC report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov while details are fresh.

What to Do by Payment Type

Credit or debit card

• Call the number on the back of your card and report unauthorized or scam-related charges.
• Ask to freeze or replace the card and dispute the transactions.
• Turn on purchase alerts for every new charge.
• If the bank disputes stall, add a CFPB complaint.

Bank transfer / wire / Zelle / Cash App / Venmo

• Contact your bank or payment app’s fraud team immediately — same day if possible.
• Ask whether the transfer can be recalled or frozen.
• Get a case/reference number and write down who you spoke with.
• Also file with IC3 for wires and online payment fraud.

Gift cards

• Keep the cards, receipts, and photos of the numbers.
• Contact the gift-card company right away and report the scam. Ask if remaining value can be frozen.
• Report to the store where you bought the cards if staff were involved or you were coached in-store.
• Use the FTC’s gift-card guidance for issuer contact paths.

Cryptocurrency

• Contact the exchange or wallet provider and report the destination address.
• Save transaction IDs, wallet addresses, and screenshots.
• Do not hire anyone who guarantees crypto recovery for an upfront fee.
• File with IC3 and read how fake “recovery” firms work.

Checks you deposited

• Tell your bank the check may be fraudulent even if funds still “show available.”
• Do not spend or send any portion of those funds.
• Ask about holds, reversals, and next steps in writing.

Lock Down Accounts & Identity

1. Change passwords for email first, then banking, then shopping and social accounts — from a device you trust.
2. Turn on multi-factor authentication (prefer an authenticator app over SMS when you can).
3. Check email forwarding rules, recovery phone/email, and recent login activity.
4. If you shared your Social Security number or full identity packet, start an official plan at IdentityTheft.gov and place freezes with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
5. Review bank and card statements daily for at least two weeks.
6. If your phone number was taken over, follow SIM swap recovery.

Where to Report

• FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov — file even if the amount feels “too small.”
• Local police: especially if you sent cash, wires, or met someone in person. Ask for a report number for your bank.
• IC3 (internet crime): ic3.gov for online fraud.
• Your bank / card / payment app fraud desk (get a case number). Find the real number via Verify before you act — never call a number from the scammer.
• Platform where it started — Marketplace, dating app, social network, job board. For scam texts, forward to 7726 (SPAM) when your carrier supports it.
• Social Security / Medicare fraud tips if those were the lure: use official .gov channels only (see government impersonation).

Reporting does not guarantee a refund, but it helps freeze related activity and protects other people.

Guides by Scam Type

After the first-hour actions, open the guide that matches what happened — each has scam-specific recovery steps.

Save Evidence

Before deleting anything, capture:

• Phone numbers, emails, usernames, and profile URLs
• Full message threads and call logs
• Payment receipts, confirmation codes, wallet addresses, tracking numbers
• Screenshots of fake websites (include the address bar)
• Dates and approximate times for every payment

If new messages arrive, analyze them in ScanBeyond before you engage.

Avoid Fake Recovery Scams

After you lose money, criminals often return as “investigators,” “FTC agents,” “IC3 specialists,” lawyers, or crypto recovery firms. They already know you were victimized — that is their lead list.

• No legitimate agency will demand gift cards, crypto, or secrecy to “recover” funds.
• Hang up on unexpected recovery calls. Verify through official published channels only.
• Read our guide on crypto recovery scams if that is the pitch you are hearing.
• Official report portals again: FTC · IC3 — never a link from a cold call.

Next 7 Days

1. 1
   Follow up on every bank, card, and gift-card case number.
2. 2
   Watch for new phishing that references your exact loss (“we found your case”). Analyze anything unexpected at ScanBeyond.
3. 3
   Update household rules — family verification code for money requests, no inbound payment links.
4. 4
   Read the matching scam guide in the Knowledge Base so you recognize the same playbook next time.
5. 5
   Give yourself credit for acting. Reporting and locking accounts is the right move, even when recovery is uncertain.

Common Questions