If you’ve been scammed, you need to:
If you saw the scam online or in an email or text
You can use our online tool to get advice. Our tool will ask you questions and use your answers to give you advice.
Start the online tool
Protect yourself from further risks
If you’ve been scammed, there are steps you can take to protect yourself from things getting worse. What you need to do depends on what’s happened.
Important If you feel threatened
Report this to the police immediately by calling 999.
If the scammer contacts you
If the scammer comes to your door, calls you, or sends you a message, ignore them,but keep a record of what's happened so you can report it. Read our advice on how to stop nuisance calls and texts.
If you’ve given the scammer access to your computer
Sometimes scammers ask to access your computer so they can control it remotely. For example, they might pretend to be from your internet provider and say they need to deal with a technical problem.
The scammer might have infected your computer with a virus, or stolen passwords and financial information. To stay safe you should:
You could also get an IT professional to check your computer.
If you transferred money to the scammer in the last 24 hours
Tell the police immediately by calling 101.
If you think your account details or PIN have been stolen
Contact your bank immediately so they can protect your account.
After you’ve told your bank about the scam, keep an eye on your bank statements and look out for any unusual transactions. Also check your credit score to see if there are applications for credit you don’t recognise.
If you think your password could have been stolen
Change your password as soon as possible. If you’ve used the same password on any other accounts you should change it there too.
Make sure you create a strong password – for example, using numbers and special characters.
Some sites let you add extra security to your account. This is known as ‘two-factor authentication’.
If you think your account has been hacked
Your account might have been hacked if a scammer has stolen your passwords. If you think this has happened, the National Cyber Security Centre has advice on recovering an account that’s been hacked.
Check if you can get your money back
If you’ve lost money because of a scam, there might be things you can do to get it back.
Read our advice on checking if you can get your money back after a scam.
Managing someone else’s bank account
If you're helping someone who's been scammed, there are ways you can manage their bank account for them. You might need to do this if you want to stop payments or claim back money.
The person you're helping needs to fill in a form giving you permission to manage their account. This is known as a 'third party mandate'. Most banks have a third party mandate on their website.
To find out more, read our advice on managing affairs for someone else.
Report the scam
Reporting a scam helps enforcement authorities track down and stop the criminals responsible. Find out how to report a scam.
FAQs
You Think You've Been Scammed. Now What?
- STOP CONTACT WITH THE SCAMMER. Hang up the phone. ...
- SECURE YOUR FINANCES.
- CHECK YOUR COMPUTER. ...
- CHANGE YOUR ACCOUNT PASSWORDS. ...
- REPORT THE SCAM.
Can I get my money back if I was scammed? ›
If you paid a scammer via debit card:
The bank must send a provisional credit to your account within 10 days and has up to 45 days to complete the investigation. If the bank determines that a charge was fraudulent, it must refund your money and remove the charge from your account [*].
What to do if you've been scammed in Canada? ›
Notify the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
You should report all scams or fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), even if you were not a victim. The CAFC collects and provides information on fraud and identity theft to protect Canadians. This information may help assist law enforcement with their investigations.
What to do if you have given your details to a scammer? ›
Contact your IT department and let them know. Open your antivirus (AV) software if you have it, and run a full scan. Allow your antivirus software to clean up any problems it finds. You should change the passwords on any of your accounts which use the same password.
How to forgive yourself after being scammed? ›
Page 1
- Write yourself a forgiveness letter and give yourself the permission and understanding to learn from the past. ...
- Forgive Yourself.
- Recognizing what you are feeling can help you understand why you are feeling this way. ...
- Accept Your Emotions. ...
- Many victims of fraud report feeling profound shame and self-blame. ...
- Overcoming.
Is there any way to recover scammed money? ›
Contact your bank and tell them it was an unauthorized debit or withdrawal. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back. Did you pay with a gift card? Contact the company that issued the gift card.
Do banks refund scammed money in Canada? ›
You should immediately report any unauthorized transaction to your financial institution. If you took the necessary steps to protect your PIN, you should get your money back. You're not responsible for losses that result from circ*mstances beyond your control, which include: technical problems.
Do banks refund money if hacked? ›
If you've been scammed, your bank may refund the money stolen from your account. It depends on the amount, how long it took to report the fraud, and how the money was stolen. While that may not be comforting, you do have some protections, including: The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA).
Can scammed money be traced? ›
While you can take steps to recover from the impact of fraud, it's nearly impossible to track down someone who scammed you and get justice. Instead, it's almost always better to protect yourself, report the scammer, and try to recover your losses. But even better is avoiding getting scammed in the first place.
Is it worth reporting a scammer? ›
If you have fallen victim to scams or fraud, we encourage you to file a report with federal and state agencies. Also, contact law enforcement offices in your local area to report the crime.
If you paid by card or PayPal
If you've paid for something you haven't received, you might be able to get your money back. Your card provider can ask the seller's bank to refund the money. This is known as the 'chargeback scheme'. If you paid by debit card, you can use chargeback however much you paid.
What not to do when you get scammed? ›
And never deposit a check and send money back to someone. Stop and talk to someone you trust. Before you do anything else, tell someone — a friend, a family member, a neighbor — what happened. Talking about it could help you realize it's a scam.
What if I accidentally gave my information to a scammer? ›
Notify the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that you have been phished. The FTC is the nation's consumer protection agency. The FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection works for the consumer to prevent fraud, deception and unfair business practices in the marketplace.
Can a scammer access my bank account? ›
Scammers get access to your bank account numbers through fraudulent telemarketer calls or by stealing them from unsecured websites when you sign up for a free trial. Once a scammer has access to your account information, they can debit your account every month with your knowledge or approval.
How to protect yourself after being scammed? ›
Article: 6 Steps to Take after Discovering Fraud
- Don't pay any more money. ...
- Collect all the pertinent information and documents. ...
- Protect your identity and accounts. ...
- Report the fraud to authorities. ...
- Check your insurance coverage, and other financial recovery steps.
How do I stop feeling bad after being scammed? ›
Here are some suggestions:
- Accept the emotions. Take another look at that list above. ...
- Find your best supportive family members and friends. ...
- Self care. ...
- Monitor and change your thinking. ...
- Ask for help when you need it. ...
- Listen and empathize without judgment. ...
- Don't say…
- Remind them this does not mean they are stupid.
How do you protect yourself if you think you have been scammed? ›
Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself:
- Tell your bank. They can:
- Check your credit report. Look for anything suspicious and get it rectified before it causes issues with your credit score. ...
- Register with Cifas.
- Speak to Action Fraud. ...
- Vishing. ...
- Phishing. ...
- Malware.
How do you report when you have been scammed? ›
The power of ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Your report is shared with more than 2,800 law enforcers. We can't resolve your individual report, but we use reports to investigate and bring cases against fraud, scams, and bad business practices.
What to do if a scammer has your phone number and address? ›
What To Do If Scammers Have Your Phone Number
- Contact your mobile carrier.
- Lock your SIM card.
- Ignore one-ring phone scams.
- Never click on links in text messages from unknown senders.
- Use strong passwords and 2FA.
- Block scam calls on your phone.
- Remove your phone number from data broker lists.