Scams are common and can happen to anyone. Acting quickly after you realize what happened can limit losses and help investigators.
Immediate steps
- Stop communicating with the scammer.
- Contact your bank or card issuer right away. Ask to reverse or dispute the payment and to cancel affected cards and accounts.
- Change passwords and turn on multi-factor authentication for any account that may be exposed.
- If you shared your Social Security number or other identity details, place a fraud alert or credit freeze and see our identity theft guide.
- Keep screenshots, receipts, messages and payment details.
Where to report
- The Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov for online crimes.
- Your state attorney general's consumer protection office.
- The platform where the scam happened, such as a marketplace or social network.
- Local police, who may take a report that your bank or insurer requires.
Can you get your money back?
It depends on how you paid. Card payments and some bank transfers can sometimes be disputed, especially if reported quickly. Gift cards, wire transfers and cryptocurrency are much harder to recover. Beware of "recovery" companies that demand upfront fees, since many are scams themselves.
Common types
- Imposter scams pretending to be a government agency, bank or tech support.
- Romance and investment scams.
- Fake check and job offers.
- Online shopping and rental listing scams.
Frequently asked questions
Will the IRS or a government agency ever demand gift cards?
No. Government agencies do not demand payment by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency.
Should I report even if I lost little?
Yes. Reports help authorities spot patterns and shut down scams.