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If You Think You've Been Scammed

Don't panic. Acting quickly is important.

Many situations can be addressed if handled promptly. This page walks through what to do next, depending on what happened, in simple and practical steps.

What To Do, Depending on What Happened

Find the situation that matches what happened, and follow the steps below. You don't need to do everything at once, start with the one that applies to you.

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If You Sent Money

  • Contact your bank or card company immediately.
  • Ask about reversing or freezing the transaction.
  • Act as soon as possible, options narrow over time.
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If You Shared a Password

  • Change that password right away.
  • Change it on any other account where it was reused.
  • Turn on extra login verification if available.
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If You Shared Personal Information

  • Contact your bank if financial details were shared.
  • Watch statements and credit reports for unfamiliar activity.
  • Consider a fraud alert with a credit bureau.
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If Someone Accessed Your Computer

  • Disconnect from the internet.
  • Have a trusted person or professional check the device.
  • Change passwords from a separate, safe device.
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If You Clicked a Suspicious Link

  • Don't enter any information on the page it opened.
  • Close the browser.
  • Run a security scan, or ask someone you trust for help if unsure.

How to Report a Scam

Reporting helps investigators track scam patterns and can sometimes help others avoid the same scam, even if money isn't recovered.

1. Write down what happened while it's fresh, dates, what was said, and any names or numbers used.

2. Report it to the appropriate agency (see links below).

3. Tell your bank or card company if money or account numbers were involved, even if you've already reported it elsewhere.

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FTC ReportFraud

Report scams and fraud to the Federal Trade Commission.

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FBI IC3

Report internet-based crimes to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

For a full directory of trusted organizations and what each can help with, visit our Resources page.

Watch Out for Recovery Scams

After being scammed, some people are contacted again, this time by someone claiming they can help recover the lost money for an upfront fee. This is often another scam. Legitimate agencies do not charge a fee to "recover" money for you.

If someone contacts you promising to recover money for an upfront fee, treat it the same way you would any other unexpected request, PAUSE, VERIFY, and PROTECT your information.

You are not alone, and asking questions before acting is always the right move.