Act quickly after a financial scam

Contact the payment provider

For a card, bank transfer, app, wire, or gift card, contact the provider's fraud department and explain the scam. Ask whether it can reverse, recall, dispute, or flag payment. For cryptocurrency, contact the sending company, while recognizing transfers are often hard to reverse.

Give accurate transaction details and preserve receipts, records, messages, numbers, usernames, wallet addresses, and ads. Do not send more money for taxes, release fees, or guaranteed recovery. Quick action is worthwhile, but no provider or government report promises a refund.

• Use official contact details.
• Ask for a case number.
• Tell your bank if credentials were exposed.

Secure identity and report

Change exposed passwords, beginning with email and financial accounts, and replace reused passwords. Contact banks about compromised numbers. If identity data was disclosed, use IdentityTheft.gov, review three reports, and consider free freezes at each bureau.

Report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov with facts and payment method. The FTC uses reports to find patterns and support enforcement but does not resolve every individual loss. Keep evidence and consider state or local authorities when appropriate.

• Ignore unsolicited recovery agents.
• Monitor statements and reports.
• Use the fixing hub if fraud reaches reports.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• FTC: What To Do if You Were Scammed
• ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• IdentityTheft.gov