I Got Scammed — What To Do Right Now
Follow these steps immediately. Speed is the single biggest factor in whether you recover your money. Do not wait.
7 Steps To Take Immediately After Being Scammed
Stop All Contact With the Scammer — Right Now
Block them on every platform. Do not respond to any further messages. Scammers routinely re-contact victims posing as "recovery agents," "law enforcement," or "refund processors" — these are additional layers of the same scam. Any further contact will cost you more money, not less.
Contact Your Bank or Payment Provider Within the Hour
Call the fraud number on the back of your card. Say: "I was the victim of a fraud and I need to dispute an unauthorized transfer." For wire transfers, the bank can attempt a SWIFT recall — this only works within 24–48 hours. For credit cards, request a chargeback under Regulation E or your card's fraud protection. For PayPal/Venmo/CashApp, report under the "unauthorized transaction" option immediately.
Screenshot and Save Everything
Before accounts get deleted: capture all chat messages, emails, the scammer's profile, the fake platform URL, all transaction records, wallet addresses, and any phone numbers or email addresses used. Save to a cloud folder. This evidence is required for police reports, bank disputes, and any recovery effort. Do it now — scammers delete accounts fast.
Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
The Federal Trade Commission (US) tracks fraud nationally. Filing a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov creates a case number that banks require for dispute escalation. The FTC also generates a personalized recovery plan based on your scam type. Takes 10 minutes.
File with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Go to ic3.gov and submit a detailed complaint including all transaction IDs, wallet addresses, and communication records. The FBI IC3 aggregates fraud data and has directly coordinated with exchanges to freeze scammer wallets in documented cases. Your report contributes to active investigations.
Report to the Platform Where It Happened
Report the scammer's profile to the platform (Facebook, Instagram, Tinder, LinkedIn, WhatsApp). Platforms have internal fraud teams and can freeze accounts, which prevents the scammer from targeting others using the same identity. On crypto exchanges, report the wallet address as suspected fraud — some exchanges (Binance, Coinbase) have active law enforcement cooperation programs.
For Crypto any crypto losses — Get a Forensics Assessment
Blockchain transactions are permanent but traceable. Forensics firms can follow funds across wallets, identify exchange deposits, and submit legal freeze requests. This has resulted in partial or full recovery in some cases. Check your case eligibility — it takes 60 seconds.
Recovery Rates by Payment Method
Credit Card
Chargeback within 120 days. Dispute as "unauthorized" or "services not received."
Bank Wire Transfer
SWIFT recall within 24–48 hours. Banks charge a recall fee (~$25–50). Not guaranteed.
Cryptocurrency
Traceable on-chain. Forensics firms can freeze at exchanges. Best for all cases.
Gift Cards
Report to the gift card issuer immediately. Some (Google Play, Amazon) have fraud teams but recovery is rare.
PayPal / Venmo
Report within 180 days as "unauthorized." Business payments have better protection than Friends & Family.
Zelle / CashApp
Designed for person-to-person — fraud protection is limited. Report immediately and escalate to your bank.
Where To Report — Direct Links
FTC (United States)
ReportFraud.ftc.gov →FBI Internet Crime (IC3)
ic3.gov →SEC (Investment Fraud)
sec.gov/tcr →CFTC (Commodity/Crypto)
cftc.gov/complaint →Action Fraud (UK)
actionfraud.police.uk →Identity Theft (US)
IdentityTheft.gov →Frequently Asked Questions
Should I feel embarrassed about being scammed?
No. The FTC recorded 2.6 million fraud reports and $10 billion in losses in 2023 alone. Scammers are full-time professional criminals using psychology, fake AI tools, and scripts refined over thousands of victims. Being scammed is a crime committed against you — not a reflection of your intelligence.
Will the police actually do anything?
For online fraud, local police usually cannot help directly. File with the FBI IC3 — this feeds national investigations and has resulted in arrests and asset seizures. Large-scale cases ($50,000+) are sometimes taken by FBI field offices. Your report is never wasted.
Is there a "scam recovery" service I should hire?
Be extremely cautious. Most "recovery agents" who contact scam victims are scammers themselves running a second scam. Legitimate services (like blockchain forensics firms) are verifiable companies with registered business addresses, do not cold-contact victims, and do not charge upfront fees to evaluate your case.
What if I gave them access to my computer or phone?
Change all passwords immediately from a different device. Run a full antivirus scan. Check for remote access software (AnyDesk, TeamViewer) that may still be installed. Contact your bank and enable transaction alerts. Consider a credit freeze at all 3 bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) if personal info was shared.
Lost money to a crypto scam, investment fraud, or wire transfer?
Check your case in 60 seconds — our eligibility tool tells you if fund recovery is possible for your specific situation.
Check Recovery Eligibility — Free →Fraud analysts and cybersecurity researchers specializing in online scam detection, phishing analysis, and victim fund-recovery guidance. About our team →