I Just Got Scammed.
What Do I Do Right Now?
Take a breath. You're not alone — the FTC received 6.5 million fraud reports in 2024. The next 24 hours matter most. Follow these steps in order, right now.
How did you pay the scammer? Jump to specific guidance:
Stop All Contact With the Scammer — Right Now
Block the scammer on every channel immediately — phone, email, social media, WhatsApp, everything. Do not respond to any further messages, no matter what they say.
⚠️ Critical: Do not send any more money
Scammers will call back with a "recovery" offer — promising they can get your money back if you pay them again. This is always a second scam. Hang up immediately.
- Take screenshots of every conversation, payment receipt, and profile before blocking
- Save the scammer's phone number, email address, and any usernames
- Write down the dates, amounts, and exact sequence of events while it's fresh
Contact Your Bank or Payment Service — This Hour
Call the fraud line immediately. Time is critical — banks can sometimes reverse or recall transactions within hours, but not days.
💳 Credit Card or Debit Card
Call the number on the back of your card right now. Say: "I need to report a fraudulent charge and dispute it." Credit cards have the strongest chargeback protection — dispute the charge under "goods/services not received" or "fraud."
- Credit cards: up to 60 days to dispute, strong chargeback rights under the Fair Credit Billing Act
- Debit cards: report within 2 days for maximum protection (limits liability to $50)
- Ask the bank to put a fraud alert on your account and issue a new card number
🏦 Bank Transfer or Wire Transfer
Call your bank's fraud line immediately. Ask them to recall or reverse the wire. Some banks can cancel a wire if it hasn't been picked up yet. Success rate drops sharply after the first few hours.
- US: Also contact the receiving bank's fraud department if you know it
- Canada: Contact your bank AND report to the CAFC within 24 hours
- File a report with your local police — banks often require a police report to process fraud claims
📱 Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, PayPal
These are the hardest to recover. Peer-to-peer payment apps generally don't offer buyer protection for payments you authorized. But you must still report it:
- Zelle: Report within the app and call your bank — Zelle is bank-backed, your bank has more leverage. Say you were "deceived into authorizing" the payment
- Venmo/PayPal: Open a dispute immediately in the app. PayPal offers some buyer protection if marked as "goods and services"
- Cash App: Tap the transaction → "..." → Report and request a refund. Contact support. Cash App fraud rarely results in recovery
₿ Cryptocurrency
Crypto transactions are irreversible by design. There is no "undo" button. Be very cautious of any company promising to recover your crypto — most are secondary scams targeting victims who are already desperate.
- Contact the exchange you used (Coinbase, Binance, etc.) and report fraud — they may be able to flag the receiving wallet
- Report to the IC3 (FBI) — they have a crypto fraud unit and have recovered funds in large cases
- Read our full guide: Lost Crypto to a Scam? Here's What You Can Actually Do
🎁 Gift Cards
Act immediately — gift card fraud can sometimes be stopped if the card hasn't been redeemed yet.
- Keep the gift card and its packaging — you need the card number and PIN
- Call the gift card issuer's fraud line (number on the back or on the brand's website)
- Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
I Gave Away My Personal Information or SSN
If you gave a scammer your Social Security number, driver's license, date of birth, or banking credentials, identity theft is now a real and immediate threat. Act on all of these today:
🔒 Freeze Your Credit at All 3 Bureaus — Free
A credit freeze is the single most effective thing you can do. It prevents any lender from opening new accounts in your name. It's free and instant.
🆔 Report to IdentityTheft.gov (US)
The FTC's IdentityTheft.gov creates a personalized recovery plan and an official Identity Theft Report you can use with banks and credit bureaus.
Go to IdentityTheft.gov📋 Place a Fraud Alert
A fraud alert (free, 1 year) requires lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening credit. You only need to contact one bureau — they're required to notify the others.
Report the Scam Officially
Filing a report creates an official record, contributes to law enforcement investigations, and in some cases is required by your bank to process a fraud claim. It takes 10 minutes.
FTC — ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Primary US agency for fraud, identity theft, and scams. Generates a personalized recovery plan.
Report to FTC →IC3 — FBI Internet Crime
For online crime including crypto fraud, BEC, ransomware, and romance scams.
Report to IC3 →CAFC — Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
Canada's central fraud reporting body. Also call 1-888-495-8501.
Report to CAFC →Local Police
File a local report — banks and insurance companies often require a police report number for fraud claims.
Visit your local precinct or file onlineI Sent Money to a Scammer — Will I Get It Back?
Honest answer: it depends on how you paid. Here's the real picture:
| Payment Method | Recovery Chance | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Credit Card | High ✓ | Dispute as fraud immediately |
| Debit Card | Medium ⚠️ | Report within 2 days for best protection |
| Bank Wire Transfer | Low-Medium ⚠️ | Call bank immediately — time-critical |
| Zelle | Low ⚠️ | Report to your bank, claim you were deceived |
| Venmo / PayPal | Low ⚠️ | Dispute immediately; PayPal G&S has some protection |
| Gift Cards | Very Low ✗ | Call issuer now — may stop if unredeemed |
| Cryptocurrency | Very Low ✗ | Report to IC3; contact exchange used |
Protect Yourself From the Next Attack
⚠️ Affiliate Disclosure — We earn a commission if you subscribe, at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure.
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Go Deeper — Scam-Specific Guides
Lost Crypto to a Scam? Honest Recovery Guide
What's actually possible, what's a scam, and who can help.
Read Guide →Romance Scam Recovery: You're Not Stupid — You Were Targeted
Emotional and financial recovery steps after a romance scam.
Read Guide →Pig Butchering: What It Is & What to Do After
The $75B crypto investment fraud — and victim recovery options.
Read Guide →