Scammed? Here is what to do right now
Breathe. Many people get money back when they act in the first hours. Tell us how you paid and where you live, and we will build your step-by-step plan.
Do these in order
Apple, Google Play, Amazon, Steam, Target, Walmart, Vanilla and others.
- Right nowContact the gift card company right away
Give them the card numbers and your receipt. If the scammer has not spent the balance yet, it can sometimes be frozen and refunded.
- Right nowKeep the cards and receipts
You will need them for the claim and the police report.
- TodayReport it
US: ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Gift card payment is never legitimate for a bill, a tax or a government fee.
- TodaySave every piece of evidence
Screenshots of chats, profiles, websites and receipts; phone numbers, emails, usernames, wallet addresses and transaction IDs. Do not delete the conversation.
- TodayWarn others
Report the website, number or wallet here so the next person who checks it is protected.
Report it in United States
Shares your report with 3,000+ law enforcement agencies.Report internet crime to the FBI
Required for crypto and online scams; include transaction IDs.Identity theft recovery planBank complaint (CFPB)
If your bank refuses a fraud claim.Forward scam texts
Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) — free on all major carriers.AARP Fraud Watch Helpline
Free support for anyone, any age: 877-908-3360.
Dispute letter generator
Fill in what you know. We create a formal letter for your bank, card issuer or payment app. Nothing is saved.
Why acting fast matters after a scam
Money moves out of scammers' accounts quickly, but banks, card companies and payment apps can still stop or reverse some payments, especially in the first hours and days. Each payment method has different rules and deadlines, which is why this planner starts by asking how you paid.
What usually works
- Credit and debit cards: a chargeback or dispute through your card issuer, usually within 120 days for card-scheme disputes.
- Bank transfers: ask your bank to recall the payment immediately. In the UK, many authorised push-payment scams are now covered by mandatory reimbursement.
- Payment apps: report inside the app and to the bank or card that funded it.
- Gift cards: contact the card issuer at once with the card numbers; unspent balances can sometimes be frozen.
- Crypto: report to the exchange you sent from and to police quickly; exchanges can freeze funds that arrive at them.
Protect yourself from the second scam
Victims are often contacted by "recovery experts", fake lawyers or fake police offering to get the money back for a fee. Real authorities never charge you to recover money. Report the scam to warn others with our report form.