What to Do If You Think You've Been Scammed

Finding out you have been scammed is one of the most upsetting experiences a person can face — not just the financial loss, but the feeling of betrayal and embarrassment. The most important thing to know: you did not do something foolish. These criminals are professional manipulators, and they specifically design their schemes to fool capable, intelligent people. What matters now is acting quickly.

Step 1: Stop All Further Contact

If you are still in communication with the person or organization, stop immediately. Do not send additional money, do not respond to follow-up calls or messages, and do not let them convince you they can help you recover what was lost. A common follow-up scam is the "recovery" offer — someone calls claiming they can get your money back, for a fee.

Block the number and do not engage further.

Step 2: Secure Your Financial Accounts

Call your bank and any credit or debit card issuers right away. Explain that you may have been targeted by a scam and ask them to:

• Place a fraud alert on your account
• Review recent transactions for unauthorized activity
• Freeze or close any card that may have been compromised
• Issue new account numbers if necessary

The sooner you call, the better your chances of stopping or reversing unauthorized transactions. Banks have fraud departments that handle these situations regularly.

Step 3: Protect Your Identity

If you gave out your Social Security number:

1. Place a credit freeze with all three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This prevents anyone from opening new credit accounts in your name. It is free and you can lift it yourself when needed.
2. Place a fraud alert with one bureau — by law, they must notify the other two.
3. Review your credit reports at annualcreditreport.com for accounts you do not recognize.

If you gave out your Medicare number, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report it and request monitoring of your account for fraudulent billing.

Step 4: Report It

Reporting feels overwhelming after everything else, but it is worth doing. Your report contributes to investigations that can shut down these operations and protect others.

• FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov — the primary federal reporting portal. Takes about ten minutes and does not require you to know all the details.
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): ic3.gov — for scams conducted online or by email.
• Your state attorney general: Most states have a consumer protection division that tracks local fraud patterns.
• AARP Fraud Watch Helpline: 1-877-908-3360 — a free line staffed by trained fraud specialists who can help you understand your next steps.

Step 5: Talk to Someone You Trust

Scam victims often isolate themselves out of embarrassment or shame. Please do not. Talking to a trusted family member or friend — not to be judged, but to get help — can make the practical steps feel less overwhelming and can protect you from follow-up attempts by the same scammers.

If the financial loss is significant, a consultation with a financial advisor or elder law attorney may help you understand your options and next steps.

If Money Was Sent by Wire Transfer or Gift Card

Recovery of money sent by wire transfer is difficult but not always impossible — contact your bank immediately. Gift card funds are generally not recoverable once the card is used. Report the gift card purchase to the card issuer (Amazon, Google, Apple, etc.) — in some cases they can flag or freeze the funds if they have not been spent.

Give Yourself Grace

Being targeted is not a failure of intelligence. The shame belongs entirely to the people who did this, not to you. Recovery — both financial and emotional — is a process, and reaching out for help is the most effective first step.