Fraud, scams, and recovery steps

Scam Recovery Basics

Being scammed can feel urgent, embarrassing, and overwhelming. The first steps are to stop more loss, save evidence, contact the payment provider, secure accounts, report the scam, and watch for follow-up scams. This guide explains general scam recovery steps and where to find official help.

Find legal help resources How to verify a lawyer

First steps after a scam

If you think you were scammed, move quickly. Recovery is not guaranteed, but fast reporting may help limit additional loss, protect accounts, and create records for banks, platforms, agencies, or law enforcement.

The FTC provides recovery guidance based on how the scammer was paid, including card payments, bank transfers, wire transfers, payment apps, gift cards, cryptocurrency, and cash. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

  • Stop communicating with the scammer.
  • Do not send more money to unlock a refund.
  • Contact the bank, card issuer, payment app, or transfer company quickly.
  • Change passwords for affected accounts.
  • Save messages, receipts, usernames, phone numbers, emails, and websites.
  • Report the scam to the correct official resource.

Common scam types

Common scams that may need recovery steps

Scam recovery steps depend on what happened, how money was sent, what information was shared, and whether identity theft or account takeover occurred.

Bank or card fraud

Bank or card fraud may involve unauthorized charges, debit withdrawals, fake purchases, payment app transfers, or stolen card information.

Online marketplace scam

An online marketplace scam may involve fake buyers, fake sellers, fake shipping, overpayment tricks, rental scams, ticket scams, or payment outside the platform.

Imposter scam

An imposter scam happens when someone pretends to be a government agency, court, bank, police officer, tech support worker, employer, romantic partner, lawyer, or family member.

Investment or crypto scam

Investment or crypto scams may involve fake trading platforms, fake profits, romance-investment schemes, wallet-draining links, or demands for more money to withdraw funds.

Identity theft

Identity theft means someone uses another person’s personal information without permission, often to open accounts, get money, receive services, or commit fraud.

Fake legal help scam

A fake legal help scam may involve someone pretending to be a lawyer, court worker, immigration helper, debt relief provider, legal aid office, or document preparer.

Payment method matters

Who to contact based on how you paid

Recovery options often depend on the payment method. FTC guidance says people should contact the company or bank connected to the payment and ask whether the transaction can be reversed. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Credit or debit card

Contact the card issuer quickly. Tell them the charge was fraudulent or unauthorized, ask about reversing the charge, and save the case number.

Bank transfer or unauthorized debit

Contact the bank quickly. Report the unauthorized debit, withdrawal, transfer, or account access, and ask what recovery or dispute process applies.

Wire transfer

Contact the wire transfer company or bank that sent the wire. Ask whether the transfer can be reversed or recalled and save all reference numbers.

Payment app

Report the transaction through the payment app and contact any linked bank or card issuer. Platform rules and timing may affect options.

Gift card

Contact the gift card company quickly. Give the card number and receipt information, and ask whether the funds can be frozen or refunded.

Cryptocurrency

Contact the exchange, wallet provider, or platform used. Crypto transactions are often difficult to reverse, so be cautious with anyone promising guaranteed recovery.

Recovery is never guaranteed. Be suspicious of anyone who says they can definitely recover scam money if you pay an upfront fee.

Documentation

Evidence to save after a scam

Save records before deleting messages, closing accounts, or blocking a scammer. Evidence can help banks, payment providers, platforms, agencies, law enforcement, or legal help understand what happened.

Payment records

Save receipts, transaction IDs, bank statements, card statements, wire confirmations, gift card numbers, crypto wallet addresses, screenshots, and payment app records.

Scammer contact details

Save phone numbers, email addresses, usernames, social media profiles, websites, domains, wallet addresses, mailing addresses, and caller ID information.

Messages and files

Save texts, emails, chat logs, direct messages, voicemails, contracts, invoices, fake receipts, fake court papers, fake job offers, and attachments.

Account access records

Save login alerts, password reset emails, security notifications, unfamiliar devices, account changes, recovery email changes, and two-factor authentication alerts.

Timeline

Write a date-by-date timeline showing when contact started, what was promised, what was sent, what was paid, and when the scam was discovered.

Report numbers

Save case numbers, complaint numbers, bank claim numbers, police report numbers, FTC report numbers, IC3 report numbers, and platform ticket numbers.

Do not post private documents, bank records, identity documents, or scam evidence publicly online. Share sensitive records only with verified agencies, banks, platforms, legal help, or law enforcement.

Where to report a scam

USA.gov provides a scam reporting tool that helps people identify the right agency or organization for a scam report. FTC’s ReportFraud.gov is the federal government website for reporting fraud, scams, and bad business practices. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

If the scam was online or internet-enabled, FBI says victims should file a report with IC3 as soon as possible. IC3 is the FBI’s main intake form for cyber-enabled frauds and scams. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

  • Use ReportFraud.gov for many fraud and scam reports.
  • Use USA.gov’s scam reporting tool to find the right place to report.
  • Use IC3 for online or internet-enabled fraud.
  • Use IdentityTheft.gov if personal information was misused.
  • Use CFPB complaints for covered financial products or services.
  • Contact local law enforcement if there is danger, threats, theft, or local crime concern.

Open USA.gov scam reporting tool

Identity theft risk

What if personal information was shared?

If a scammer received personal information, the issue may become identity theft. Personal information can include Social Security numbers, bank details, card numbers, driver’s license details, passport details, medical information, tax information, passwords, verification codes, or account access.

IdentityTheft.gov provides step-by-step recovery guidance to help limit damage, report identity theft, and fix credit. USA.gov also says identity theft reports can be made through IdentityTheft.gov and notes that people may contact credit reporting agencies for fraud alerts and credit freezes. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Open IdentityTheft.gov

Definitions

Identity protection terms

  • Fraud alert: a notice on a credit report telling creditors to take extra steps before opening new credit.
  • Credit freeze: a restriction that limits access to a credit report, making it harder for someone to open new credit in that person’s name.
  • Account takeover: unauthorized access to an existing account, such as email, banking, social media, or payment apps.
  • Recovery plan: a set of steps to report identity theft, fix records, protect accounts, and monitor for new misuse.

Account security

Accounts to secure after a scam

If a scammer had account access or sensitive information, secure accounts quickly. Start with the accounts that control money, identity, email, devices, and recovery access.

Email account

Change the password, check recovery email and phone settings, review forwarding rules, sign out unknown devices, and turn on two-factor authentication.

Bank and card accounts

Contact the bank or card issuer, review transactions, report unauthorized activity, change login details, and ask about account protections.

Payment apps

Review linked cards and bank accounts, report scam transactions, change passwords, remove unknown devices, and check privacy settings.

Social media accounts

Change passwords, remove unknown devices, check connected apps, warn contacts if the account was used to send scam messages, and report impersonation.

Phone and mobile carrier

Contact the carrier if SIM swap, number theft, port-out fraud, or unusual account changes may have happened.

Credit reports

Check credit reports for unfamiliar accounts, hard inquiries, collection items, or addresses. Consider official identity theft resources if something is wrong.

Read credit report basics

Watch for recovery scams

After someone loses money, another scammer may claim they can recover the funds, trace crypto, remove fake charges, contact law enforcement, or unlock a refund. They may ask for upfront fees, taxes, verification payments, wallet access, or more personal information.

Be especially careful if the person contacts you after you posted about the scam online or after you filed a report. Real agencies and banks do not need gift cards, cryptocurrency, or secret payment codes to recover money.

  • No one can guarantee recovery of scam money.
  • Be suspicious of upfront recovery fees.
  • Do not give wallet seed phrases or private keys.
  • Do not send more money to unlock a refund.
  • Verify any claimed agency, lawyer, investigator, or company.
  • Use official contact details, not links from strangers.

Fake legal help

Fake legal help scams can involve people pretending to be lawyers, legal aid workers, court officials, immigration representatives, debt relief companies, settlement agents, or document preparers.

If someone claims to be a lawyer, verify the lawyer through the official state licensing authority before paying money or sharing documents. A real lawyer should be able to tell you where they are licensed and how to verify that license.

How to verify a lawyer

Warning signs

Legal scam warning signs

  • Guaranteed court, immigration, debt, or lawsuit result
  • Pressure to pay immediately
  • Gift card, crypto, wire, or payment app demand
  • Refusal to provide license information
  • Fake court papers or fake government seals
  • Threats of arrest, deportation, eviction, or account seizure unless you pay
  • Requests for passwords or verification codes

Financial complaints

What if the scam involved a financial product?

Some scams involve checking accounts, savings accounts, credit cards, credit reports, debt collection, money transfers, virtual currency, payday loans, personal loans, prepaid cards, student loans, or vehicle loans. CFPB currently accepts complaints for many of these consumer financial products and services. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

A CFPB complaint is not the same as a police report, bank fraud claim, lawsuit, or legal advice. It may be one reporting option when a covered financial company is involved.

Open CFPB complaint page

Terms to know

Financial scam terms

  • Unauthorized transaction: a payment, withdrawal, transfer, or charge that a person did not authorize.
  • Chargeback: a card-network process that may reverse certain card transactions depending on rules and facts.
  • Dispute: a request asking a bank, card issuer, platform, bureau, or company to review a transaction or record.
  • Complaint: a report submitted to a company, regulator, agency, platform, or law enforcement office.

Avoid risky mistakes

Common scam recovery mistakes to avoid

Scam recovery is stressful. These mistakes can make it harder to recover money, protect accounts, or prove what happened.

Sending more money

Scammers may say one more fee, tax, deposit, or verification payment is needed. Do not keep paying to chase a refund.

Deleting evidence

Save messages, payment records, profiles, websites, receipts, wallet addresses, and report numbers before deleting or blocking.

Using fake reporting websites

Use official government and agency websites. Scammers may create look-alike reporting portals or fake recovery websites.

Sharing passwords

Do not share account passwords, bank logins, one-time codes, private keys, seed phrases, or remote access with anyone claiming to help.

Waiting to contact the bank

Payment recovery options can depend on timing. Contact the bank, card issuer, payment app, or transfer company quickly.

Assuming a report guarantees recovery

Reports can help create records and support investigations, but they do not guarantee refunds, arrests, lawsuits, or recovery.

Reliable help

Official scam recovery and reporting resources

Use official and recognized resources before trusting people who contact you through social media, search ads, messaging apps, or recovery forums.

FTC recovery guidance

FTC explains what to do after a scam based on how money was sent, including cards, bank transfers, wire transfers, payment apps, gift cards, crypto, and cash.

Open FTC recovery guidance

ReportFraud.gov

ReportFraud.gov is the federal government website for reporting fraud, scams, and bad business practices.

Open ReportFraud.gov

FBI IC3

IC3 is the FBI’s main reporting intake form for online and cyber-enabled frauds, scams, and cybercrime.

Open IC3

IdentityTheft.gov

IdentityTheft.gov provides step-by-step recovery guidance for identity theft.

Open IdentityTheft.gov

CFPB complaint page

CFPB accepts complaints about many consumer financial products and services, including money transfers, credit cards, credit reports, debt collection, and bank accounts.

Open CFPB complaints

Find Legal Help

Learn where to look for legal aid, lawyer referrals, court self-help, law libraries, and official resources.

Find legal help resources

Common questions

Scam recovery FAQ

What should I do first after being scammed?

Stop communicating with the scammer, save evidence, contact the payment provider quickly, secure affected accounts, and report the scam through official resources.

Can I get my money back after a scam?

Recovery depends on payment method, timing, platform rules, bank rules, and facts. Contact the bank, card issuer, payment app, transfer company, gift card company, or crypto platform as quickly as possible.

Where should I report a scam?

Reporting options may include ReportFraud.gov, USA.gov’s scam reporting tool, FBI IC3 for online scams, IdentityTheft.gov for identity theft, CFPB for covered financial products, and local law enforcement when appropriate.

What is a recovery scam?

A recovery scam happens when someone claims they can recover lost scam money, trace funds, or unlock a refund, but first demands fees, cryptocurrency, gift cards, private keys, passwords, or personal information.

What if I gave the scammer my Social Security number or ID?

Use official identity theft recovery resources, such as IdentityTheft.gov, and consider account security steps, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and contacting affected banks or agencies.

Can Legal Advice Basics recover scam money?

No. Legal Advice Basics provides general legal information only. It does not recover money, investigate scams, trace cryptocurrency, file reports, provide legal advice, or represent consumers.

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How to verify a lawyer

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Read credit report basics

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Disclaimer: Legal Advice Basics provides general legal information for educational purposes only. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, fraud investigation, money recovery, cryptocurrency tracing, credit repair, financial advice, attorney referrals, case review, document review, report filing, deadline calculation, or emergency legal help. Scam recovery steps, payment disputes, bank claims, chargebacks, fraud reports, identity theft recovery, platform complaints, police reports, and consumer protections vary by payment method, platform, bank, agency, jurisdiction, document, timing, and facts. If you need advice about your own scam or fraud issue, contact a licensed attorney, qualified legal aid organization, consumer protection agency, financial institution, law enforcement agency, or appropriate government resource.

Last reviewed: May 24, 2026.