You already clicked, paid, or shared. Here’s what to do right now.
If you already clicked, paid, or shared information — it may not be too late. Fast action can still reduce damage. What you do in the next few minutes and hours matters more than what already happened.
Stop the bleeding first.
Stop communicating with them. Do not respond to calls, texts, or emails from the scammer.
Stop sending money. If you are in the middle of a transaction — stop. Call your bank before completing it if possible.
Stop clicking. If you received a link or attachment in connection with this situation — do not click anything else.
Stop any downloads. If something is currently downloading — cancel it.
Stop remote access immediately. If you gave someone access to your computer and they still have it — disconnect your internet right now. Unplug your ethernet cable or turn off your Wi-Fi.
What To Document — Do This Now While It’s Fresh
The more information you can capture, the more useful your reports will be. Write down or screenshot as much as you can:
- Phone numbers involved — even if you know they were spoofed
- Email addresses used
- Website addresses you visited
- Exactly what was said — write it out while you remember
- Dates and times
- Amounts of money sent and how
- Gift card brands, amounts, and card numbers if you have them
- Any names, badge numbers, or case numbers given to you
- Wire transfer confirmation numbers or transaction IDs
- Screenshots of any text messages, emails, or pop-ups
You don’t need all of this. Capture what you have.
Who To Report To
Filing reports matters — not just for your own recovery but because each report contributes to investigations that have supported real enforcement actions.
The primary consumer fraud reporting agency. Start here.
For internet-based crimes and larger fraud amounts.
Required for any unauthorized transactions and for fraud documentation.
If your SSN was shared.
If your SSN was compromised, an IP PIN prevents someone from filing a return in your name.
For a police report, which may be required by your bank and documents the crime officially.
Many states have consumer fraud divisions that track local scam activity.
A note on shame.
Scams work because they are designed to. They exploit the most human parts of us — love, fear, trust, and the instinct to protect the people we care about.
The silence that shame creates is one of the scammer’s most powerful tools. Every person who doesn’t report because they’re embarrassed is a person whose case doesn’t get counted, whose information doesn’t contribute to an investigation, and who doesn’t get the help that’s available to them.
You don’t have to tell everyone. But tell your bank. Tell the FTC. Tell someone who can help.
What happened to you is not who you are. What you do next is what matters.