I think I was scammed. What do I do now?
Take a breath. This happens to smart, careful people. Acting quickly helps, and none of this is your fault.
Do these first (about 15 minutes)
- Call the company you paid with. Use the number on your card or statement, not one a caller gave you. See your payment type below.
- Stop contact with the scammer. Do not send more money, even for "recovery" or "fees".
- Keep records: gift cards, receipts, messages, phone numbers, screenshots.
- Tell someone you trust.
If you paid, by how you paid
From the FTC page "What To Do if You Were Scammed" (verified October 17, 2026). Your money might already be gone, but the FTC says it is always worth asking.
| You paid with | Do this |
|---|---|
| Zelle or a bank transfer | Report it to your bank or credit union immediately and ask them to reverse the payment and refund your money. |
| Payment app (Venmo, Cash App, PayPal) | Report it to the payment app immediately and ask them to reverse the payment and refund your money. |
| Wire transfer (Western Union, MoneyGram) | Report it to the wire company immediately. Tell them a scammer tricked you and ask for a refund. |
| Credit card | Report it to the card issuer immediately (number on the back of your card, or your online account). Ask for a refund. The FTC says federal law protects you from unauthorized use of your credit card. |
| Debit card | Report it to your bank or credit union immediately and ask for a refund. The FTC says federal law protects you from unauthorized use of your debit card. |
| Gift card | Contact the gift card issuer immediately (number on the back of the card). Tell them a scammer tricked you into giving the card number and PIN, and ask for a refund. Keep the card and receipt. |
| Cryptocurrency or a Bitcoin ATM | Contact the exchange or ATM operator immediately, tell them it was a fraudulent transaction and ask them to reverse it and refund. The FTC says it can be hard to get money back because crypto payments lack the legal protections of cards. |
| Cash in the U.S. mail | Call the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 immediately. For a fee they can intercept a domestic package that has not yet been delivered. For FedEx or UPS, contact them as soon as possible. |
| Cash or gold handed to a courier or person | Call local police and report to IC3 and the FTC. Tell your bank if the cash came from your accounts. (Our general guidance; the FBI lists these hand-offs as warning signs.) |
If you gave personal information
- Social Security number used by a scammer: go to IdentityTheft.gov, report it, and follow your recovery plan. If it was not used or you are not sure, follow identitytheft.gov/databreach.
- Gave a username and password but can still log in: create a new strong password (and change it anywhere you reused it) and turn on two-factor authentication.
- Cannot log in: use the account's recovery steps, then follow the FTC's steps for taking back a hacked account.
If you gave someone access to your computer or phone
- Update your security software and run a scan; delete anything it flags.
- Change your passwords and turn on two-factor authentication.
- Get help from the device maker, a company you know and trust, or a knowledgeable friend or family member.
Then report it
Reporting helps investigators and may help others. The FTC says reports are used to build cases, spot trends and educate the public.
- ReportFraud.ftc.gov (FTC)
- ic3.gov (FBI) for online or cyber-enabled fraud
- Age 60+? The National Elder Fraud Hotline: 833-372-8311, Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET
- Need to talk it through? AARP Fraud Watch Helpline: 877-908-3360, Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-8 p.m. ET
- The full reporting directory and state offices
Beware of "recovery" scams
AARP warns that after a loss, criminals may follow up posing as law enforcement, a lawyer, a consumer advocacy group or a government agency, and charge fees to "recover" your money. The National Elder Fraud Hotline also warns that scammers are using the Hotline's own name and number. Do not give money or personal information to anyone who contacts you about recovering funds. Call the official numbers on this page yourself.
Feeling embarrassed? AARP's Feb 2026 survey says shame is the main reason people do not report. Reporting is brave and useful.
Sources
Last verified: October 17, 2026. We link to the original public pages. Hotline hours and agency advice can change; check the linked page.
- What To Do if You Were Scammed (FTC; undated page)
- Biggest Fraud and Scams to Watch for in 2026 (AARP; 2026)
- National Elder Fraud Hotline (U.S. DOJ Office for Victims of Crime; undated page)
- Romance Scams Put Millions of Adults 50-plus at Risk (AARP press release; Feb 3, 2026)
- AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline (AARP; undated page (read Oct 17, 2026))
- ReportFraud.ftc.gov (FTC; live site)
- IC3.gov (FBI IC3; live site)
- IdentityTheft.gov (FTC; live site)
- Report postal crime / USPIS (U.S. Postal Inspection Service; live site)