Think you've been scammed? Explore helpful actions to take
Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, and even the most cautious people can fall victim. If you feel you've been scammed, taking quick action can help you to try to recover your money and prevent further damage. Here are some helpful tips:
1. Stay Calm and Document the Information
Before taking action, collect all information about the scam, including:
• The scammer’s contact information (email address, phone number, website, etc.)
• Screenshots of the emails, messages, or transactions
• Bank or transaction information about the scam
Having this information will be useful to use when filing the fraud.
2. Report to Your Bank or Payment Provider
If you used a credit card, debit card, or bank transfer to send the money, report the scam to the bank. Most banks provide fraud protection services and can reverse the payment or investigate.
If you used:
• Credit Card – Get a chargeback. Most credit card companies provide fraud protection.
• Debit Card – Call the bank and ask if they can freeze the payment or reverse it.
• Wire Transfer – Report to the bank immediately. Recovery is possible but unlikely.
• Payment Apps (Cash App, Venmo, PayPal, etc.) – Dispute the charge with the service company. Some provide protection from fraud.
• Cryptocurrency – Unfortunately, crypto transactions are generally non-reversible, but report the scam to the used exchange.
3. Report the Scam to the Authorities
Even if recovering the money is not an option, filing the report will help the authorities take action against the scammers. Report scams to:
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) – ic3.gov
• Your police department – They can assist to file a fraud report.
• Better Business Bureau (BBB) – If the scam was conducted through a company, report the problem to BBB.org.
4. Protect Your Accounts and Identity
If you disclosed personal information, take steps to protect yourself:
• Change account passwords.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA/MFA).
• Review your bank and credit card statements for unusual transactions.
• Put your credit on hold with the big three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) to safeguard yourself from identity theft.
5. Warn Others and Raise Awareness
If the scammer is still in operation, warn others to avoid further victims:
• Leave reviews on scam-reporting websites.
• Post your experience on social networks (if willing).
• Report bogus websites to Google’s Safe Browsing or other internet safety websites.
6. Beware of Recovery Scams
Having fallen victim to the scam, you will be approached by “recovery specialists” claiming that they can recover your money—at a fee. Be careful! Most are scams themselves. Deal only with legitimate banks and law enforcement.
The best defense from scams is to be educated and cautious. If something seems to be too good to be true, it probably is!
1. Stay Calm and Document the Information
Before taking action, collect all information about the scam, including:
• The scammer’s contact information (email address, phone number, website, etc.)
• Screenshots of the emails, messages, or transactions
• Bank or transaction information about the scam
Having this information will be useful to use when filing the fraud.
2. Report to Your Bank or Payment Provider
If you used a credit card, debit card, or bank transfer to send the money, report the scam to the bank. Most banks provide fraud protection services and can reverse the payment or investigate.
If you used:
• Credit Card – Get a chargeback. Most credit card companies provide fraud protection.
• Debit Card – Call the bank and ask if they can freeze the payment or reverse it.
• Wire Transfer – Report to the bank immediately. Recovery is possible but unlikely.
• Payment Apps (Cash App, Venmo, PayPal, etc.) – Dispute the charge with the service company. Some provide protection from fraud.
• Cryptocurrency – Unfortunately, crypto transactions are generally non-reversible, but report the scam to the used exchange.
3. Report the Scam to the Authorities
Even if recovering the money is not an option, filing the report will help the authorities take action against the scammers. Report scams to:
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) – ic3.gov
• Your police department – They can assist to file a fraud report.
• Better Business Bureau (BBB) – If the scam was conducted through a company, report the problem to BBB.org.
4. Protect Your Accounts and Identity
If you disclosed personal information, take steps to protect yourself:
• Change account passwords.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA/MFA).
• Review your bank and credit card statements for unusual transactions.
• Put your credit on hold with the big three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) to safeguard yourself from identity theft.
5. Warn Others and Raise Awareness
If the scammer is still in operation, warn others to avoid further victims:
• Leave reviews on scam-reporting websites.
• Post your experience on social networks (if willing).
• Report bogus websites to Google’s Safe Browsing or other internet safety websites.
6. Beware of Recovery Scams
Having fallen victim to the scam, you will be approached by “recovery specialists” claiming that they can recover your money—at a fee. Be careful! Most are scams themselves. Deal only with legitimate banks and law enforcement.
The best defense from scams is to be educated and cautious. If something seems to be too good to be true, it probably is!