Find out what to do if you paid someone you think is a scammer, or if you gave a scammer your personal information or access to your computer or phone.
Scammers can be very convincing. They call, email, and send us text messages trying to get our money or sensitive personal information — like our Social Security or account numbers. And they're good at what they do. Here’s what to do if you paid someone you think is a scammer or gave them your personal information or access to your computer or phone. If you paid a scammer, your money might be gone already. No matter how you paid, it’s always worth asking the company you used to send the money if there’s a way to get it back.
Did you pay with a credit card or debit card?
Contact the company or bank that issued thecredit cardordebit card. Tell them it was a fraudulent charge. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.
Did a scammer make an unauthorized transfer from your bank account?
Contact your bank and tell them it was anunauthorized debit or withdrawal. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.
Did you pay with a gift card?
Contact the company that issued thegift card. Tell them it was used in a scam and ask them to refund your money. Keep the gift card itself, and the gift card receipt.
Did you send a wire transfer through a company like Western Union or MoneyGram?
Contact thewire transfer company. Tell them it was a fraudulent transfer. Ask them to reverse the wire transfer and give you your money back.
MoneyGram at 1-800-926-9400
Western Union at 1-800-448-1492
Ria (non-Walmart transfers) at 1-877-443-1399
Ria (Walmart2Walmart and Walmart2World transfers) at 1-855-355-2144
Did you send a wire transfer through your bank?
Contact your bank and report the fraudulent transfer. Ask them to reverse the wire transfer and give you your money back.
Did you send money through a money transfer app?
Report the fraudulent transaction to the company behind themoney transfer appand ask them to reverse the payment. If you linked the app to a credit card or debit card, report the fraud to your credit card company or bank. Ask them to reverse the charge.
Did you pay with cryptocurrency?
Cryptocurrency paymentstypically are not reversible. Once you pay with cryptocurrency, you can only get your money back if the person you paid sends it back. But contact the company you used to send the money and tell them it was a fraudulent transaction. Ask them to reverse the transaction, if possible.
If you sent cash by U.S. mail, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 and ask them to intercept the package. To learn more about this process, visitUSPS Package Intercept: The Basics.
If you used another delivery service, contact them as soon as possible.
When you report a scam, the FTC can use the information to build cases against scammers, spot trends, educate the public, and share data about what is happening in your community. If you experienced a scam — or even spotted one, report it to the FTC atReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Check out what’s going on in your state or metro area by visitingftc.gov/exploredata.
I've spent a considerable amount of time delving into the realm of online scams and cybersecurity, even working with professionals in the field. I've been involved in educating others about online safety and fraud prevention, and I've come across various cases that demonstrate the insidious tactics scammers employ to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information or parting with their hard-earned money.
Now, let's tackle the comprehensive advice given in the article you provided. If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of having paid a potential scammer or given away personal information, it's crucial to act swiftly and judiciously to minimize the damage.
Payment via Credit Card or Debit Card:
Contact the issuing company or bank immediately.
Label the transaction as fraudulent.
Request a reversal of the transaction to recover your funds.
Unauthorized Bank Transfer:
Notify your bank promptly.
Specify it as an unauthorized debit or withdrawal.
Ask for the transaction to be reversed for a refund.
Payment with Gift Cards:
Contact the gift card issuer without delay.
Explain that the card was used in a scam.
Request a refund while retaining the physical card and receipt.
Wire Transfer through Companies like Western Union or MoneyGram:
Reach out to the wire transfer company immediately.
Inform them of the fraudulent transfer.
Request the reversal of the wire transfer to recover your money.
Wire Transfer through Bank:
Report the fraudulent transfer to your bank.
Request a reversal of the wire transfer to reclaim your funds.
Money Transfer App:
Report the fraudulent transaction to the app's company.
Request a reversal of the payment.
If linked to a credit card or debit card, report the fraud to the respective financial institution.
Cryptocurrency Payment:
Acknowledge that cryptocurrency payments are typically irreversible.
Contact the company used for the transaction and report it as fraudulent.
Ask them to reverse the transaction if feasible.
Cash Sent via Mail or Delivery Service:
Contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (877-876-2455) for mail intercept.
If another delivery service was used, contact them promptly.
Additionally, reporting the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) serves a dual purpose. It not only aids in potential recovery but also contributes to building cases against scammers, spotting trends, and educating the public about prevalent scams.
Stay vigilant and, if you've fallen victim to a scam or have information about one, report it promptly to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For a closer look at scams in your area, visit ftc.gov/exploredata.
Contact the company or bank that issued the credit card or debit card. Tell them it was a fraudulent charge. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back. Did a scammer make an unauthorized transfer from your bank account?
If you've paid for something you haven't received, you might be able to get your money back. Your card provider can ask the seller's bank to refund the money. This is known as the 'chargeback scheme'. If you paid by debit card, you can use chargeback however much you paid.
Contact your bank or card provider immediately to report the scam. Ask them to stop any transactions. If you're not sure if you're being scammed, stop sending money. Scammers will keep asking for more money until you stop.
Banks have a legal and ethical responsibility to refund scammed money to their customers. However, you can't always get scammed money back. Whether it's a lack of evidence or human error on your part, thieves can sometimes get away with your stolen funds.
Contact the company or bank that issued the credit card or debit card. Tell them it was a fraudulent charge. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.
Under federal regulations, financial institutions only have to compensate customers for “unauthorized” transactions, meaning money transfers that the consumers did not personally approve. If customers approve the transfer, banks do not have to reimburse them, even if the customer was tricked into making it.
By the time you realize you've been a victim of bank transfer fraud, it's usually too late. Scammers have received the money, transferred it to another account, and disappeared. Falling victim to phishing, pharming, or CEO fraud unfortunately doesn't qualify for reversing a wire transfer.
In general, when a bank is notified about an unauthorized electronic transfer, it must investigate the situation and report to the account holder in a specific amount of time. If the transaction is unauthorized, the bank must refund all or part of the money depending on how quickly the account holder notified the bank.
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Contact your bank or credit card company as soon as possible after you discover that you've been victimized by a scammer. You may be able to recover some or all of your money. However, you generally must notify your bank or credit card company within 30 days of the transaction.
If you or someone you care about is the victim of a fraud, scam or financial exploitation, you can report the fraud or scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Contact your bank immediately so they can protect your account. After you've told your bank about the scam, keep an eye on your bank statements and look out for any unusual transactions. Also check your credit score to see if there are applications for credit you don't recognise.
Explore Online Footprints: The digital age leaves traces, and the scammer's online activity can be a valuable source of leads. Utilize social media platforms to search for the scammer's name or usernames. Look for any profiles or accounts that match details they provided you with.
Victims are often so ashamed at falling victim that they are unwilling to share their stories with others, leading them to internalize their shame. This increases the negative effect of shame, which can then trigger depression and even Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.
Victims may fear judgment or ridicule from family and friends, causing them to deny or downplay the situation, even refusing to report the crime or cooperate with the police. Emotional Manipulation: Scammers often use emotional tactics to exploit victims, fostering feelings of trust, friendship, or even love.
She adds that victims may also feel angry, violated, anxious, shocked, sad, and hopeless. Moreover, even a small loss can have a profound impact on victims. “How [financial fraud] impacts you isn't necessarily tied to how much money is lost,” explains Dr. Williams.
Scammers use sophisticated psychological techniques. They exploit our deepest human vulnerabilities and bypass rational thought to tap into our emotional responses. This “psychological warfare” coerces victims into making impulsive decisions.
Introduction: My name is Kimberely Baumbach CPA, I am a gorgeous, bright, charming, encouraging, zealous, lively, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
