What To Do If You’ve Been Scammed
Being scammed is overwhelming. You may feel shock, shame, or fear. Remember: these crimes are designed to trick intelligent, careful people. The most important thing is to act quickly, preserve evidence, and avoid further losses.
Step 1: Stop Contact Immediately
- Cut off all communication with the scammer. Do not reply, argue, or try to “get back” at them — it only exposes you to more manipulation.
- Block them on all platforms where they contacted you (messaging apps, email, social media, phone).
Step 2: Preserve Evidence
- Take screenshots of conversations, profiles, websites, payment receipts, wallet addresses, and transaction IDs.
- Export full chat logs if possible (WhatsApp, Telegram, email, SMS).
- Save web links and domains they used.
- Keep everything in a safe folder — it can help police, banks, or investigators.
Step 3: Contact Your Financial Institutions
- Credit card or bank transfer: Call your bank immediately, explain it’s fraud, and request they freeze or reverse the transaction if possible.
- Crypto transactions: Copy the wallet address and TXID (transaction ID). Notify the exchange where you bought crypto. If the scammer’s wallet links to a known exchange, request that they flag or freeze it.
- Payment apps (PayPal, Venmo, etc.): File a fraud claim through the app.
Step 4: Report the Scam
- Local police or cybercrime unit: Even if recovery is unlikely, reporting is essential for documentation and statistics.
- National reporting centers: Most countries have official portals (e.g., IC3 in the U.S., Action Fraud in the U.K., Scamwatch in Australia).
- Platform reporting: Report the scammer’s profile or website to the platform (dating app, messaging service, social media, or hosting company). This helps shut them down.
Step 5: Secure Your Devices & Accounts
- If you gave remote access to your computer or phone, disconnect from the internet and run antivirus/anti-malware scans. Consider a professional check if banking details were exposed.
- Change all passwords for email, banking, and crypto accounts from a clean device.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) everywhere you can.
- Revoke wallet approvals in crypto wallets if you signed suspicious contracts.
Step 6: Look After Yourself
- It is normal to feel ashamed or guilty, but remember: scams are calculated crimes built on manipulation.
- Tell someone you trust what happened. Speaking about it reduces isolation and allows others to support you.
- Seek professional counseling or victim support hotlines if you feel overwhelmed — emotional recovery is as important as financial recovery.
What Not To Do
- Do not pay more money to anyone, unsolicited by you, claiming they can recover your lost funds.
- Do not confront the scammer directly or threaten them — it may lead to harassment or further manipulation.
- Do not ignore the situation — scams often escalate if not acted on quickly.
Next Step
Now that you know what to do immediately, learn more about the specific types of scams and how they operate. This will help you understand what happened and recognize the warning signs if you are ever approached again.