What to do if you've been scammed
Updated 2026-05-03
Speed matters. The first 24 hours decide whether you get your money back. Follow these steps in order.
1. Contact your bank or card issuer immediately
Call the number on the back of your card. Major US banks have 24/7 fraud lines. For credit card charges, your Fair Credit Billing Act protections cap liability at $50. For debit cards, report within 2 business days to cap liability at $50 (otherwise up to $500).
2. Freeze cards and change passwords
Freeze any compromised cards in your banking app. Change online banking passwords from a clean device, not the one you may have installed remote-access software on.
3. Report to the FTC
File at reportfraud.ftc.gov and IdentityTheft.gov. The latter generates a personalized recovery plan and an Identity Theft Report.
4. Place a credit freeze
Free at all three bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. A freeze prevents new credit being opened in your name. Pull your free reports at annualcreditreport.com.
5. Beware of recovery scams
Within weeks of being scammed, you'll likely be contacted by 'recovery agents' promising to get your money back for a fee. They are the same criminals or their network. Genuine recovery never requires upfront payment.
Frequently asked questions
Will my bank refund me?
Credit card chargebacks are usually granted under the Fair Credit Billing Act. Wire transfers, gift cards, and crypto are extremely hard to recover — speed of reporting matters most.
Should I tell anyone else?
Yes — friends, family, and your employer if work data was shared. Reporting to WhoCalledMe.ai helps the next person spot the same number.