What You Should Do Immediately

1. 1 Stop communicating with the suspected scammer. Do not send additional money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, passwords, verification codes, or personal information. Scammers often create a false sense of urgency.
2. 2 Contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline if applicable. Adults age 60 and older in the United States can call 833-372-8311 for free assistance from trained case managers, Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
3. 3 Report the incident. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. If the scam occurred online, you should also report it to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
4. 4 Contact your bank or payment provider. If you transferred money or made a payment, notify your financial institution immediately and ask whether the transaction can be reversed or your account secured.
5. 5 Protect your identity. If you shared sensitive personal information, consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion.

What Did You Give the Scammer?

Pick what happened to you. Each one needs slightly different steps. If more than one applies, do all of them, starting with money.

I sent money

1. Bank transfer, wire, or Zelle: call your bank now using the number on your card or statement. Ask them to recall the payment and to file a fraud claim. Every hour matters.
2. Credit or debit card: call the number on the back of your card and dispute the charge. Ask for a new card.
3. Gift cards: call the gift card company using the number on the back of the card. Keep the cards and receipts.
4. Cryptocurrency: contact the exchange or crypto ATM company you used and report the wallet address you sent to.
5. Payment app: report the payment inside the app and call your bank if the app is linked to it.
6. Report it at ic3.gov and reportfraud.ftc.gov.

I gave my card or bank details

1. Call your bank or card company now and ask them to cancel the card or lock the account.
2. Check recent transactions together with them and dispute anything you do not recognize.
3. Turn on alerts for every transaction so you see new charges right away.

I gave a password

1. From a different, trusted device, change that password right away.
2. If you used the same password anywhere else, change it there too. Start with your email account.
3. Turn on two step verification and sign out of all other sessions.
4. In your email settings, remove any forwarding rules you did not create.

I gave a verification code

1. Assume the scammer used it to sign in. Call the company the code came from, using the number on its official website or your card.
2. Change the password for that account and check its security settings for new phones, emails, or devices.
3. If the code was from your bank, ask them to check for new payees or transfers.

I let them onto my computer or installed an app

1. Disconnect the computer from the internet. Turn off Wi-Fi or unplug the cable.
2. Uninstall the remote access app they asked you to install.
3. From a different device, change the passwords for your email and bank.
4. Have the computer checked by a trusted repair shop or run a full security scan before you use it for banking again.
5. Call your bank, because remote access scams often lead to transfers you did not make.

I gave my Social Security number or ID

1. Freeze your credit for free at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This stops new accounts being opened in your name.
2. Go to IdentityTheft.gov for a personal recovery plan.
3. Watch your mail and credit reports for accounts you did not open.
4. If you gave a photo of your driver's license, contact your state's motor vehicle office.

Watch for a second scam. After you report a loss, you may be contacted by someone offering to recover your money for a fee. Real agencies never charge you to get money back. Read about recovery scams.

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Important Reminder

The Scam Exposed is an independent scam awareness platform. We are not a government agency, law enforcement organization, financial institution, or official fraud reporting service.

Our tools are designed to help educate the public and raise awareness about scams. While we work to provide accurate and timely information, no website can identify every new or emerging scam. Always verify information independently before making financial or personal decisions.

For official reporting resources, consumer protection agencies, and additional assistance, please visit our Resources page.