I Got Scammed - What Should I Do to Protect Myself

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.