What to Do If You Paid a Scammer

If you fell for a scam, don’t be embarrassed: Scammers are more sophisticated than ever, and can be deceptively clever in their schemes. In the immediate aftermath of discovering the scam, however, it’s important to act quickly if you did indeed pay the scammer the money they were looking for.

The good news is, your money might not be gone for good. But even if it is, it’s important to be vigilant going forward, as the scams might not be quite at an end yet.

If you paid a scammer

If you gave a scammer money in any capacity, read on. The FTC has a number of great tips for taking action to try to get your money back, no matter how you paid the scammer. Here are some examples:

• Credit or debit card: Report fraud to your credit or debit card company, and request a reverse transaction.
• Unauthorized bank transfer: Tell your bank and request a reversal.
• Gift card: Contact the gift card company and report the scam. Ask for your money back.
• Wire transfer through your bank: Contact your bank, report the fraud, and request a reversal.
• Wire transfer through a third-party (Western Union, MoneyGram): Contact the company, report fraud, and request a reversal.
• Payment app: Contact the payment app customer support and report the fraud. Ask for your money back. If you linked your credit or debit card, contact your credit or debit card company.
• Cryptocurrency: Contact the company that you used to send the cryptocurrency, report the fraud, and ask for your money back.
• Cash: If you sent cash via mail, contact the USPS and ask them to stop the package.

Beware future scams

If you can’t get your money back, don’t let your guard down: Some scammers pray on scam victims looking to get their money back, offering services to track down the original scammers and return your lost funds. Don’t buy it: These services don’t work, and are looking to get even more of your money.