Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.

I Got Scammed - What Should I Do to Protect Myself
I Got Scammed - What Should I Do to Protect Myself

If you just got scammed, act immediately. Contact your bank or payment provider to freeze accounts and try to reverse the transaction, change your passwords if accounts were accessed, and report the fraud to official authorities like the Federal Trade Commission or local police.

Stop the Financial Damage

  • Contact your bank or credit card company immediately to freeze your accounts, cancel cards, and report fraudulent transactions.
  • Report the fraud directly to the platform, app, or payment service (e.g., Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, or gift card issuer) where the money was sent.
  • Stop all contact with the scammer completely, block their numbers, and do not send any more money under any circumstances.

Secure Your Personal Identity

  • Change your passwords immediately if you gave out credentials, logged into a fake link, or use the same password across multiple websites.
  • Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all of your critical accounts, especially your email and banking apps.
  • Place a fraud alert on your credit report with major bureaus (like Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) if your Social Security number or personal ID was compromised.

Report the Scam to Authorities

  • File an official government fraud report online through platforms like the FTC Report Fraud Portal or the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) if you are in the United States.
  • Contact your local police department to file a formal police report, as your bank may require a copy of it to process your fraud claim.

WARNING: Watch out for Recovery Scams. Anyone who messages you right now on social media or online claiming they are a "hacker" or an "expert" who can get your money back for a fee is a secondary scammer trying to steal from you again. Real law enforcement and government agencies will never charge an upfront fee to assist you.

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