I've been scammed. What do I do right now?

Right now: the first hour

1. 1.

   STOP all communication with the scammer — do not respond, do not click anything else, do not send more money under any circumstances.

2. 2.

   Call your bank or payment provider immediately — tell them you've been a victim of fraud. Request a recall or chargeback. Explain who initiated the transaction and ask what can be stopped, recalled or disputed. Report even if time has already passed.

3. 3.

   Document everything — screenshot all conversations, emails, transaction records, and the scammer's profile/contact information before they delete it. Save URLs, phone numbers, and usernames.

4. 4.

   Change your passwords — if you shared any credentials, change them immediately from a different device. Start with email and banking.

5. 5.

   Do NOT pay any "recovery fees" — scammers often circle back posing as recovery agents, lawyers, or government officials. Do not pay to release a supposed refund. Verify any professional and written scope independently; a legitimate lawyer may charge for legal work.

Report promptly through the relevant channels

Reporting creates a paper trail essential for potential recovery and protects future victims. Our full reporting directory explains exactly who to contact and what each agency does — here are the essentials:

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  Your bank — file a formal fraud dispute in writing, not just a phone call. Request a reference number.

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  FBI IC3 (ic3.gov) — for US victims of any internet crime. This feeds into federal databases that track scam networks.

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  FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov) — creates a record that helps law enforcement identify patterns across thousands of reports.

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  Report Fraud (UK) — reportfraud.police.uk for England, Wales and Northern Ireland; in Scotland, contact Police Scotland on 101. Use emergency services for immediate danger.

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  Scamwatch (Australia) — report scams at scamwatch.gov.au; use ReportCyber or police for cybercrime as appropriate. A Scamwatch report does not replace contacting your bank.

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  Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre — for Canadian victims of all fraud types.

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  Local police — file a police report. You'll need the report number for insurance claims and credit disputes.

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  The platform where the scam occurred — dating app, social media, marketplace. Report the scammer's profile so they can be removed.

For a Zelle payment, distinguish a transfer made by an intruder from one you personally sent because of deception. Ask the bank about the applicable legal protections and any qualifying imposter-scam reimbursement policy. Our payment-method guide explains the difference.

Beware recovery scams

This is critical and most guides don't mention it: after being scammed, you are now a known target. Your information may be on "sucker lists" sold between criminal groups. Watch for:

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  "Recovery agents" — who contact you claiming they can get your money back — a release fee or a guaranteed result. Verify the person and process independently.

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  Fake law firms — that "specialize" in fraud recovery. Verify any firm through your state bar association before paying anything.

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  Government imposters — claiming to process your refund — verify unexpected official contact through contact details you find independently; do not pay the caller a release fee.

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  Cryptocurrency "recovery services" — a tracing report does not confer control over funds or seizure authority. Ask what legal process is actually proposed.

Unexpected recovery contact needs independent verification. A real agency may contact victims, but a badge, case number or knowledge of your loss is not authentication.

Verify the service, not just the fee arrangement. A contingency offer does not prove legitimacy and an advance legal fee does not prove fraud. Check the professional through the relevant regulator, contact them through independently obtained details and get a written scope and costs. Never share a wallet seed phrase or banking code with an unexpected recovery caller. Our recovery-scam guide explains the limits of banks, lawyers, investigators and official outreach.

Reviewed 23 September 2026. We corrected overbroad verification and recovery claims during our launch-content review. See the corrections log for the material changes.