What to Do If You've Been Scammed: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you have just realised you were scammed, take a breath. You are not stupid, and you are not alone. In 2025 the FBI received more than one million complaints, with reported losses of about $20.9 billion, and that is only the US. Scams today are run by organised groups with scripts, quotas and AI tools. What matters now is acting quickly and calmly.

This guide covers what to do in the first hour, how to talk to your bank, where to report in the US, UK, India and Singapore, and how to avoid being scammed a second time.

What to do in the first hour

Speed matters most when money is still moving. The FBI's 2025 report says that when you discover a fraudulent transfer, "time is of the essence". Do these steps in order:

1. Stop paying. Do not send any more money, even if the scammer says one more "fee", "tax" or "unlock charge" will release your funds. It will not.
2. Call your bank or payment provider. Use the number on the back of your card or in the official app, not a number from a message. Say clearly: "I have been scammed. I need to report fraud and ask for a recall of the payment."
3. Report to the national fraud line in your country (see the table below). In India, call 1930 straight away.
4. Secure your accounts. If you shared passwords, one-time codes or remote access to your phone or computer, change your passwords from a different, clean device and turn on two-factor authentication.
5. Save the evidence. Take screenshots of chats, profiles, websites, phone numbers, wallet addresses and payment receipts before the scammer deletes them.

Talking to your bank: what to ask for

Banks see fraud every day, so you do not need to feel embarrassed. Ask them to:

• Block or freeze your card and, if needed, your online banking.
• Try to recall or reverse the transfer and contact the receiving bank.
• Open a formal fraud claim and give you a reference number.
• Explain your rights. In India, for example, RBI rules limit your liability for unauthorised electronic transactions if you report quickly, ideally within three working days.

How you paid affects what can be done. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises:

• Credit or debit card: ask the card issuer for a refund or chargeback.
• Bank transfer or wire: report it to your bank or the wire company (such as Western Union or MoneyGram) and ask for a recall.
• Gift cards: contact the card company using the number on the back, tell them a scammer has the card number, and keep the card and receipt.
• Payment apps: report the payment inside the app and ask for a reversal.
• Cryptocurrency: contact the exchange or crypto ATM operator at once and ask them to flag and reverse the transaction. Recovery is often difficult, but a fast report helps investigators.

In Singapore, many banks offer a Kill Switch in their app that freezes all your accounts at once. ScamShield advises using it if you have leaked your banking details.

Where to report a scam, by country

Reporting matters even if the amount is small. Reports help police link cases, freeze mule accounts and warn others. If you are elsewhere, contact your local police and your national consumer protection or cybercrime agency.

Evidence checklist: what to keep

• Dates, times and amounts of every payment.
• Transaction IDs, UTR numbers, receipts and bank statements.
• The scammer's phone numbers, usernames, email addresses, profile links and website URLs.
• Crypto wallet addresses and transaction hashes.
• Full chat history (export WhatsApp or Telegram chats if you can).
• Any documents they sent you, such as fake contracts, IDs or certificates.

Do not delete the chats, and do not warn the scammer that you have reported them.

Watch out for the second scam: fake recovery

After a scam, you may be contacted by someone who promises to get your money back. They may claim to be a lawyer, a government agency, a "blockchain investigator" or even the police. This is called a recovery scam, and it is extremely common.

The FBI's 2025 report counted more than 10,000 recovery-scam complaints with about $1.4 billion in losses. People aged 60 and over reported about $540 million of that. Scammers buy and trade lists of people who have already lost money.

Red flags of a recovery scam:

• They contact you first, often soon after your loss.
• They already know details of your case.
• They ask for an upfront fee, "tax" or "verification deposit".
• They want payment in crypto, gift cards or wire transfer.
• They guarantee they can recover your money.

Government agencies and police do not charge victims to investigate. Read our full guide to the crypto recovery scam.

Look after yourself

Being scammed can cause shame, anger, sleeplessness and even thoughts of self-harm. These feelings are normal, and they are not a sign of weakness. Scammers are trained professionals who study human emotions.

• Tell someone you trust. Talking it through reduces shame and helps you think clearly.
• Get support. In the UK, Citizens Advice runs a consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133. Many banks and police services can also refer you to victim support.
• If you feel unsafe or overwhelmed, contact a local crisis line or emergency services right away.
• Be kind to yourself. Many smart, educated people are scammed every day.

If someone you know was trafficked into a scam job

Some scams are run from compounds where workers are held against their will. If you know someone stuck in a fake overseas job, contact your country's embassy. In the US, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Indian nationals abroad can seek help through the MEA's MADAD portal. Learn more in scam compounds explained.

What to do next

1. Follow up with your bank and keep a log of every call, with names and reference numbers.
2. Check your bank and card statements for new suspicious activity over the next few months.
3. Block the scammer on every platform and report their profile to the platform.
4. Learn the warning signs with our is-this-a-scam checklist, or test yourself with the scam quiz.
5. Need more help? Visit our help page or report a scam to us.

Getting money back is never guaranteed, but acting fast, reporting everywhere and refusing to pay "recovery" fees gives you the best chance and protects you from losing more.