What to Do If You Think You've Been Scammed

Immediate steps to take if you have been scammed — protect your money and accounts right now.

In this guide (8 steps):

1.Stop all communication with the scammer immediately
2.Call your bank right away
3.Change your passwords
4.Report to the FTC
5.Report to your local police
6.If you gave remote access to your computer — act fast
7.Tell someone you trust
8.Monitor your accounts for unusual activity

Stop all communication with the scammer immediately

~24s

Do not reply to any more messages, emails, or phone calls from the person or company you suspect is a scammer. Do not click any links they sent you. If they are on the phone with you right now, hang up. Block their number if you can. Scammers are very convincing and will try to keep you talking — the best thing you can do is cut off contact completely.

Call your bank right away

~40s

If you shared any bank details, sent money, or gave out your credit or debit card number, call your bank immediately. Use the phone number on the back of your bank card — not a number the scammer gave you. Tell them you may have been the victim of fraud. Your bank can: - Freeze your card so no more money can be taken - Reverse recent transactions in some cases - Issue you a new card - Flag your account for monitoring The sooner you call, the better your chances of getting your money back.

Warning

If you sent money via gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency, it may be very difficult to get back. Contact your bank immediately — the sooner you act, the better your chances.

Change your passwords

~26s

If you gave out any passwords, or if you clicked a suspicious link and entered login information, change those passwords right now. Start with the most important accounts: 1. Your email account (this is the most critical — scammers can use it to reset all your other passwords) 2. Your bank and financial accounts 3. Any social media accounts 4. Any other account where you used the same password Make each new password different and at least 12 characters long.

Report to the FTC

~30s

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) tracks scams across the country. Reporting helps them catch scammers and protect other people. Go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov on your phone or computer and fill out the short report. You do not need to know the scammer's real name — just describe what happened. The FTC will not contact you about your report, but the information helps law enforcement investigations.

Quick Tip

The FTC will never threaten you, ask you to transfer money to "protect it," or tell you to buy gift cards. That is always a scam. Learn more at consumer.ftc.gov/scams

Report to your local police

~19s

File a report with your local police department. While they may not be able to catch the specific scammer, having a police report on file can help if you need to dispute charges with your bank or credit card company. Bring any evidence you have — screenshots of messages, emails, phone numbers, or transaction records.

If you gave remote access to your computer — act fast

~35s

If you let someone remotely control your computer (they may have asked you to download software like AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or UltraViewer), do this right away: 1. Disconnect your computer from the internet — unplug the ethernet cable or turn off WiFi 2. Uninstall the remote access software they had you install 3. Run a full virus scan using Windows Security (built into Windows) or your antivirus program 4. Change all passwords you may have typed while they were watching 5. Check your bank accounts for unauthorized transactions The scammer may have installed other software or looked at your personal files while connected.

Tell someone you trust

~24s

Being scammed can feel embarrassing, but there is absolutely no shame in it — scammers are professionals who trick thousands of people every day. Tell a family member, friend, or neighbor what happened. They can: - Help you think clearly about next steps - Watch for follow-up scams (scammers often try again, pretending to help you "recover" your money) - Provide emotional support You are not alone, and talking about it helps.

Monitor your accounts for unusual activity

~29s

For the next several weeks, check your bank statements, credit card statements, and email carefully. Look for: - Charges you did not make - New accounts opened in your name - Password reset emails you did not request - Mail or bills from companies you do not recognize You can also get a free credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com to check if anyone has opened accounts in your name. Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) — this is free.

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