Do not respond to any more calls, emails, or messages from the scammer — even if they threaten you or promise to return your money. Continued contact only gives them more opportunities to take more from you.

Actions to take:

• Block their phone number
• Block their email address
• Block or unfriend them on social media
• Do not open any more messages from them

Some scammers will contact you again pretending to be someone who can “help you recover your money” — this is a second scam. No one will contact you to recover lost funds.

Call your bank or credit card company immediately. The faster you act, the better your chances of recovering your money or stopping further charges.

Tell them:

• That you believe you’ve been the victim of a scam
• The date and amount of any payments made to the scammer
• How you paid (credit card, debit card, wire transfer, etc.)

Ask them to:

• Freeze or close any compromised accounts
• Reverse or dispute fraudulent charges
• Issue you a new card number
• Place a fraud alert on your account

Tip: Use the phone number on the back of your bank card or on your statement — never a number the scammer gave you.

Your chances of getting money back depend on how you paid. Here’s what to do for each method:

• Credit card: Call your credit card company and dispute the charge. Credit cards offer the strongest fraud protection — you have a good chance of getting your money back.
• Debit card: Call your bank immediately. Protection is more limited than credit cards, and the money may have already left your account, but quick action helps.
• Wire transfer (Western Union, MoneyGram): Call the company immediately and request a reversal. If the money hasn’t been picked up yet, you may be able to stop it.
• Gift cards: Contact the gift card company (Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, etc.) and explain what happened. Recovery is rare, but report it — they track these scams.
• Zelle, Venmo, Cash App: Contact the app’s support team to report the fraud. Also contact your bank since these services are linked to your bank account.
• Cryptocurrency: Recovery is extremely unlikely, but report it to the platform you used and to the FTC.

If you shared any passwords, login information, or personal details with the scammer, take these steps right away:

• Change your passwords on any accounts that may be affected — starting with your email, then banking, then social media. Use strong, unique passwords for each. See our password guide.
• Turn on two-factor authentication on all important accounts. See our 2FA guide.
• Check your email for any password reset messages you didn’t request — this could mean the scammer is trying to get into your other accounts.
• Review your account activity on banking, email, and social media for anything you don’t recognize.

Reporting helps law enforcement track scammers and warns others. Even if you don’t get your money back, your report matters.

Where to report:

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): ReportFraud.ftc.gov — the main federal reporting site for scams and fraud.
• FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center: IC3.gov — for internet-based scams and cybercrime.
• Your state attorney general: Search “[your state] attorney general consumer complaint” to find the right office.
• Local police: File a report with your local police department. Get a copy of the report number — you may need it for insurance or bank claims.
• The platform where it happened: Report the scammer on Facebook, Amazon, Google, or whichever platform was used.

Once you’ve been targeted, scammers may try again — sometimes using information they already have about you. Take these extra precautions:

• Place a fraud alert on your credit reports by contacting one of the three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. They’re required to notify the other two. This is free.
• Consider a credit freeze if sensitive information like your Social Security number was shared. A freeze prevents anyone from opening new accounts in your name. This is also free.
• Monitor your bank statements and credit reports closely for the next several months.
• Be alert for recovery scams. Someone may contact you claiming they can get your money back — for a fee. This is always a scam.