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What to do if you got scammed

Move fast. Call the company you paid through and ask them to reverse it, secure your accounts, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Easy30 min to doFree

You'll need

  • How and when you paid
  • Screenshots of the messages

Do it like this

  1. Contact whoever moved the money, right away: your bank for Zelle or transfers, the app for Venmo, Cash App or PayPal, the wire company, or the card issuer. Ask them to reverse it (FTC).
  2. Paid with a gift card? Call the number on the back of the card, and keep the card and receipt (FTC).
  3. Paid with crypto? Contact the exchange or ATM operator and ask them to reverse it (FTC).
  4. Change passwords on any account you shared, and turn on two-step sign-in (FTC).
  5. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For internet crime, you can also file with the FBI's IC3.
Watch out. Watch for "recovery" scams. The FTC will never threaten you or tell you to move money to protect it (FTC).

If it doesn't work

  • Gave out your Social Security number? Use IdentityTheft.gov for a step-by-step plan (FTC).
  • Card charges you didn't authorize? Federal law limits what you owe, so report it to the issuer immediately (FTC).
  • Gave a scammer remote access to your computer? The FTC explains how to update security software and scan for problems (FTC).

Good to know

Crypto has fewer protections

Crypto payments don't have the same legal protections as credit and debit cards (FTC).

IC3

The Internet Crime Complaint Center is run by the FBI (IC3).

You're not alone

Scams work on smart people. Reporting helps stop the next one.

Sources

  1. Federal Trade Commission What to do if you were scammed
  2. Federal Trade Commission ReportFraud.ftc.gov
  3. Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

Lesson T3.2 · Last checked October 2, 2026 against the sources listed. See a mistake?