Anyone can be scammed. These operations are run by professionals who use real data, spoofed numbers and pressure tactics. What counts now is acting quickly.
1. Try to stop or reverse the payment
| If you paid by | Do this now |
|---|---|
| Credit or debit card | Contact the card issuer using the number on the back of the card. Ask them to dispute the charge and replace the card. |
| Bank transfer or wire | Contact your bank immediately and ask it to recall the transfer. The sooner you ask, the better the chance. |
| Payment app | Report the payment in the app and contact the bank or card linked to it. |
| Gift cards | Contact the company that issued the card, with the card numbers and receipts. Keep the cards and receipts. |
| Wire service or money transfer company | Contact the company to report fraud and ask it to stop the transfer if it hasn't been collected. |
| Cryptocurrency | Contact the exchange or service you used. Crypto payments are hard to reverse, so report quickly. |
| Cash | If sent by mail or courier, contact the shipping company and ask it to intercept the package. |
2. Secure your email and bank accounts
- Change passwords on any account you discussed or logged into because of the scam, starting with email and banking.
- Turn on two-step verification, preferably with an authenticator app rather than text messages.
- If you gave a scammer remote access to a computer, disconnect it from the internet and have it checked before using it for banking again.
- Check recent activity on bank, card and shopping accounts, and set up transaction alerts.
3. Protect your phone number from SIM swaps
Criminals sometimes take over a victim's number by porting it to another carrier or swapping it onto a new SIM, so they can receive login codes. Contact your carrier and ask about adding an account PIN, a port-out PIN or a number lock. If your phone suddenly loses service without explanation, contact the carrier from another phone right away.
4. If you gave a scammer personal information
- Social Security number: consider a free credit freeze at each of the three nationwide credit bureaus. It's free and doesn't affect your credit score.
- Bank details: ask your bank whether to close and reopen the account.
- Driver's license or passport details: note them for your identity theft report.
If someone has used your information, the FTC's IdentityTheft.gov site helps you create a recovery plan and an official report.
5. Report the phone scam
- Federal Trade Commission. Report the scam at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Reports help investigators spot patterns and warn others.
- Your bank and carrier. Even if no money was lost, tell them the scam used their name or network.
- Local police. A police report can help with bank disputes and identity theft claims.
- Do Not Call. If it started as an illegal robocall or sales call, report the number at donotcall.gov.
6. Watch for recovery scams
People who've lost money are often targeted again by callers offering to recover it for a fee, sometimes claiming to be from a government agency or law firm. Government agencies don't charge to get your money back, so treat any such offer as a second scam.
Keep a record of the scam
Write down the numbers that called, dates and times, what was said, how you paid, and every report reference number. Save texts and voicemails. Each later step goes faster with that record.
To spot the next attempt, read common phone scams and set up the tools in block spam calls.
Questions after a phone scam
Can I get money back after paying a scammer with gift cards?
Sometimes, if you act fast. Contact the company that issued the cards with the card numbers and receipts, and keep both.
Does a credit freeze hurt my credit score?
No. A credit freeze is free at each of the three nationwide credit bureaus and doesn't affect your score.
Should I file a police report for a phone scam?
It can help with bank disputes and identity theft claims. Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov as well.