Paid a Scammer? What to Do Right Away
Scammers are skilled at pressure and deception, and they fool smart, careful people every day. If you’ve sent money or shared personal information with one, you’re not alone, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. What matters now is acting quickly. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says the sooner you act, the better your chance of stopping or reversing a payment.
Step 1: Contact the Company You Used to Pay
Call using a number you trust, such as the one on the back of your card or in the company’s official app. Explain that it was a scam and ask them to reverse the payment or give you a refund.
- Credit or debit card: Call your card issuer or bank. Federal law offers protection against unauthorized card charges.
- Bank transfer, including Zelle: Tell your bank or credit union right away and ask them to reverse it.
- Wire transfer (such as Western Union or MoneyGram): Report it to the wire company, explain you were tricked, and ask for a refund.
- Gift card: Call the company that issued the card, using the number on the card. Keep the card and your receipt.
- Payment app (such as Venmo, Cash App or PayPal): Report the payment in the app and ask for it to be reversed.
- Cryptocurrency: Contact the exchange or crypto ATM operator. Getting crypto back is hard because it lacks the protections cards have.
- Cash sent by mail: Call the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455. For a fee, they may be able to stop a package that hasn’t been delivered yet.
Step 2: Protect Your Accounts and Identity
- Gave your Social Security number? If it has been misused, go to IdentityTheft.gov for a personal recovery plan. If you’re not sure, follow the steps at IdentityTheft.gov/databreach.
- Gave a password? Change it, plus anywhere else you used the same one, and turn on two-step verification.
- Let someone control your computer or phone? Update or install security software, run a scan, delete anything it flags, then change your passwords. A trusted family member or the device maker can help.
Step 3: Report It
Reporting helps investigators track scammers and warn others. You can:
- Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Call the Department of Justice’s National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).
- Contact your state attorney general’s office.
- Call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 for free support, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern.
- File a report with your local police if you lost money.
Watch Out for “Recovery” Scams
The FTC warns that scammers buy lists of people who have already lost money. Then they call pretending to be a government agency, consumer group or law firm, offering to get your money back for a fee. Keep these rules in mind:
- Real government agencies never charge you to help get a refund.
- Never pay a “processing fee,” “retainer” or “taxes” up front to recover money.
- Don’t share bank details so someone can “deposit” your refund.
- Look up an agency’s phone number yourself. Don’t trust the number a caller gives you or the one on caller ID.
Be Kind to Yourself
Talk with someone you trust about what happened. A family member or friend can help you work through these steps, and you don’t have to handle it alone.
More on Seniors Tips
- The Family Emergency Scam: How to Spot It and What to Do
- Government Impostor Scams: How to Spot Fake Social Security, IRS, and Medicare Calls
- Tech Support Scams: What to Do When a Scary Pop-Up Appears
