What to do if scammed
Act fast: contact your bank or provider
If you’ve lost money to a scam, reach out to your bank or payments provider straight away. Use the official phone number or their secure app, not one you find in an email or a search engine ad. Ask if they can stop or reverse the payment, and tell them it was fraud so the transaction can be flagged at once.
Remember, some actions are only available in the first hours or days, so the sooner you act, the better. Make sure you write down the reference number for your case, the names of any staff you speak to, the date, and the time. Ask them for confirmation in writing that your complaint is on record, having this in writing can make future steps much easier. If you paid through a mobile app, you might be covered by app fraud reimbursement rules. Check your eligibility directly with the provider.
Secure your accounts and keep the evidence
- Change the password not just for the affected account, but for any other service where you used the same password as well.
- If you haven’t already, turn on two-factor authentication. Review your email account to make sure no new forwarding or redirect rules were set up without your knowledge.
- Gather all the evidence you have, screenshots, emails, WhatsApp messages, confirmation emails, receipts, or the precise web addresses the scammer used.
- Keep every message connected to the scam, even if it feels uncomfortable. You might need to show them to your bank or to police for your complaint to be processed.
Report the scam to the right authorities
Report the scam as soon as you can to both your local police and your national fraud or cybercrime reporting agency. If the fraudster claimed to work for a licensed financial institution, report this to the financial regulator too. On top of that, notify the site or app where you first made contact, on a marketplace, social network, or dating app, to help prevent others from being targeted.
Afterwards, be careful who gets in touch. And if anyone offers to retrieve your stolen funds for a fee upfront, don’t trust them. These are common recovery scams. Genuine authorities or police investigations never require payment before taking your report.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get my money back after a scam?
It is possible, though not assured. Your chances depend on how quickly you raise the alarm, which payment route was used, and your country’s consumer protection rules. Some card charges may be reversed by your card’s chargeback process, and a few countries require banks to repay certain scam payments in full. Ask your bank which options could be relevant for your case.
Should I pay someone to recover my lost money?
You shouldn’t. Many people who contact scam victims promising to recover money for a fee are running scams themselves. Police investigations and genuine regulators don’t charge you to take your report. Always look up any company on your financial regulator’s official register before proceeding with any payment.