What to Do If You've Been Scammed: A Step-by-Step Recovery Guide

Fell for a scam? Don't panic. Take these steps right away to protect your money, your accounts, and your identity.

In this guide (8 steps):

1.Stop all contact with the scammer right now
2.Contact your bank or credit card company right away
3.Change your passwords on important accounts
4.Remove remote access software if someone installed it
5.Place a free fraud alert or credit freeze
6.Report the scam
7.Monitor your accounts for unusual activity
8.Talk to someone — you are not alone

Stop all contact with the scammer right now

~33s

If you are still in contact with the scammer — on the phone, in email, or in a chat app — end all communication immediately. Block the phone number or email address. Do not respond to any further messages, even if they threaten you or claim to be from law enforcement. Real police and government agencies do not ask for payment via phone or email.

Warning

Scammers often call back after you hang up, pretending to be from a different agency that can "help" you recover your money. This is a second scam. Do not answer calls from numbers you do not recognize.

Contact your bank or credit card company right away

~38s

If you sent money or shared your bank or card details, call the fraud department of your bank or credit card company as soon as possible. Look for the phone number on the back of your card or on your bank's official website. Explain what happened and ask them to reverse the transaction or freeze the account if needed. The sooner you call, the better your chances of recovering funds. For wire transfers, ask about a recall. For gift cards, call the gift card company directly — each has a fraud line.

Quick Tip

For credit card charges, request a chargeback. For debit card fraud, federal law gives you better protection if you report within two business days.

Change your passwords on important accounts

~32s

If you gave your password to anyone, or if you clicked a phishing link and logged in somewhere, change your passwords immediately for: your email account (this is the most important one), your bank and financial accounts, and any account you use the same password for. Use a different strong password for each account. A strong password is at least 12 characters long and includes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Quick Tip

If you need help managing multiple passwords, a free password manager like Bitwarden (bitwarden.com) stores all your passwords securely so you only need to remember one.

Remove remote access software if someone installed it

~37s

If a scammer talked you into installing software so they could "fix your computer" — common programs include AnyDesk, TeamViewer, and UltraViewer — you need to remove it immediately. On Windows: click StartSettingsApps → search for the program name → click Uninstall. On Mac: open FinderApplications → drag the program to the Trash → empty the Trash. After removing the software, run a full scan using Windows Defender (built into Windows) or Malwarebytes (free at malwarebytes.com). Change all your passwords after doing this.

Warning

Even after removing remote access software, assume the scammer may have copied your files or saved your passwords. Change every important password as a precaution.

Place a free fraud alert or credit freeze

~40s

If you gave the scammer your Social Security number, date of birth, or other personal details, they may try to open accounts or take out loans in your name. Protect yourself by placing a free credit freeze with all three major credit bureaus: Equifax (equifax.com), Experian (experian.com), and TransUnion (transunion.com). A credit freeze stops anyone from opening new credit in your name — including you — until you unfreeze it. It is free and does not hurt your credit score. You can also place a free one-year fraud alert, which warns lenders to verify your identity before opening new accounts.

Quick Tip

You must contact all three bureaus separately to freeze your credit. It takes about 5 minutes per bureau at their official websites.

Report the scam

~27s

Reporting helps authorities catch scammers and warn others. Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov — this takes about 5 minutes and the FTC uses reports to build cases against scammers. For investment fraud, report to the SEC at sec.gov/tcr. For internet-based fraud, file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. For gift card scams, contact the gift card issuer and report to the FTC.

Quick Tip

The FTC's website at consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed has detailed guidance for every type of scam. Bookmark it.

Monitor your accounts for unusual activity

~24s

Check your bank and credit card statements daily for the next few weeks. Look for any charges you do not recognize — even small ones (scammers often test with a small charge before making larger ones). Sign up for transaction alerts through your bank's app so you get a text every time money moves. Check your credit report for free at AnnualCreditReport.com — you can now check it weekly for free.

Talk to someone — you are not alone

~26s

Being scammed can feel embarrassing or shameful, but it is not your fault. Scammers are professionals who do this full-time. Millions of people fall for scams every year, including lawyers, doctors, and security experts. If you need to talk to someone, the AARP Fraud Watch Network helpline (877-908-3360) is free and staffed by trained volunteers Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 8 PM Eastern. They can walk you through next steps and provide emotional support.

You Did It!

You've completed: What to Do If You've Been Scammed: A Step-by-Step Recovery Guide

Need more help? Get Expert Help from a TekSure Tech

Being scammed is one of the most distressing things that can happen — and it happens to millions of people every year, including smart, experienced adults. If you have recently realized you may have been scammed, the most important thing is to stay calm and take action quickly. Acting within the first 24 hours gives you the best chance of limiting the damage.

Scams take many forms: a fake tech support call where you gave someone remote access to your computer, a phishing email where you entered your bank login, a gift card demand where you sent money, or a romance scammer who convinced you to wire funds. Each situation is a little different, but the core steps to protect yourself are the same. Go through this guide step by step — you do not need to do everything at once, but start with Step 1 immediately.

Rate this guide

How helpful was this guide?

scams

recovery

identity theft

FTC

credit freeze

safety