What to Do If You Think You Have Been Scammed

First, pause and stop contact

If something feels wrong, trust that feeling. Stop replying, hang up if you are on a call, and do not send any more money, even if you are told that one more payment will unlock a refund, release a prize or fix a problem. Scammers often push harder when they sense doubt, using threats, guilt or a new story. You do not owe them an explanation.

If you gave someone remote access to your computer, disconnect it from the internet. Then update your security software, run a full scan and remove any programs you did not install yourself. If you are unsure how, a reputable local repair shop can help.

It is worth saying plainly: scams succeed because they are designed by people who practice every day. Being targeted says nothing about your intelligence. Feeling embarrassed is normal, but it should not stop you from acting quickly or asking for help.

Next, act based on how you paid

Your options depend on the payment method, and time matters for all of them. Call using the number on your card, statement or official app, never a number the scammer gave you.

Credit card

Contact your card issuer and ask about disputing the charge. Federal law gives credit card users the right to dispute billing errors, including charges for goods or services that were not delivered as agreed, if you notify the issuer in writing within 60 days after the statement showing the charge was sent. Your liability for unauthorized credit card charges is capped at $50 under federal law, and many issuers go further.

Debit card or bank transfer

Call your bank right away. For unauthorized electronic transfers, how quickly you report affects how much you could lose, and reporting within two business days of learning about the problem offers the most protection. If you sent a wire transfer, ask the bank to try to recall it. The sooner you ask, the better the chance.

Payment app

Report the transaction in the app and ask the company to reverse it. If the app is linked to a bank account or card, contact that bank or card issuer too. Payments you authorized yourself, even under false pretenses, can be harder to recover than payments made without your permission, so report quickly and explain that you were deceived.

Gift cards, cryptocurrency or cash

Contact the company that issued the gift card, tell them it was used in a scam, and keep the card and your receipt. For cryptocurrency, contact the exchange or platform you used. If you mailed cash, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. These payments are difficult to recover, which is exactly why scammers ask for them, but it is still worth asking.

If you shared personal information

• Passwords: change the password on the affected account and on any other account that used the same one, and turn on two-step verification.
• Bank or card numbers: ask your bank or card issuer to monitor the account or to issue new numbers.
• Your Social Security number: report it at IdentityTheft.gov. Consider placing a free fraud alert, which you can do by contacting any one of the three nationwide credit bureaus, or a credit freeze with all three.
• Access to your phone or email: if you lost control of either, contact your carrier or email provider, and review the recovery settings once you are back in.

Keep a simple record

Before you delete anything, save what you can. Take screenshots of messages, profiles, websites and payment confirmations. Write down dates, amounts, names, phone numbers, email addresses and what was said on each call. Note who you speak to at your bank and any reference numbers they give you. A clear timeline makes disputes and reports easier, and saves you from retelling the story from memory.

Report what happened

Reporting may not bring your money back directly, but it helps investigators connect cases and warn others.

1. The Federal Trade Commission: report fraud and scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If your identity was misused, use IdentityTheft.gov instead.
2. Online crimes: scams that happened over the internet can also be reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
3. Your state: your state attorney general’s office handles consumer protection complaints and may act against businesses operating in your state.
4. Local police: a police report can support some disputes and insurance claims, especially for larger losses.
5. The platform involved: report the profile, listing, ad or account on the website or app where you met the scammer.

If the problem involves a financial product or service, such as a bank account, loan or credit card, you can also submit a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Protect yourself going forward

Scammers sometimes share or sell the contact details of people who have responded before, so expect more attempts over the following months. Be especially careful with calls, texts and emails that mention your earlier loss. Watch your statements closely, review your credit reports, and talk about what happened with someone you trust. Sharing the experience is one of the most effective ways to protect friends and family from the same scheme.

Helpful official resources

These official sites are the best places to confirm current rules and to report problems. IntelliReply is not affiliated with any of them.

• Federal Trade Commission: Consumer Adviceconsumer.ftc.gov
• IdentityTheft.govidentitytheft.gov
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureauconsumerfinance.gov
• USA.govusa.gov

This guide is general educational information, not legal or financial advice. Rules can change and may differ by state, so check the official sources above for the latest details. Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know.