You Paid a Scammer: What To Do Next

Illustrative photo of a person seen from behind in a grassy meadow, one arm raised toward the line of a small red kite

VisaNow.AI

If you paid a scammer, contact the company you used to send the money right away and ask if there is a way to get it back. Then report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC warns that your money might be gone already, but it says asking is always worth it. This checklist collects the first steps from the FTC and USAGov pages, grouped by how you paid. It does not get your money back for you or tell you how your own case will turn out. It is general information, not advice about your situation.

The photo on this page is illustrative only: one person seen from behind in a grassy meadow raises an arm toward the line of a small red kite.

First: steps for any payment method

  1. Act immediately. The FTC page says to report the payment immediately for almost every payment method, so make this contact before anything else.
  2. Use a contact you can trust. For a card, use the number on the back of the card or your account online or in the app, because the FTC warns that scammers can change the number that appears on your caller ID.
  3. Say it was a scam. Tell the company a scammer tricked you, a step the FTC lists for wire transfers and gift cards.
  4. Ask for your money back. Ask the company to reverse the payment or refund your money, a request the FTC lists for bank transfers, wire transfers, cards, gift cards and cryptocurrency.

Zelle or bank transfer

  1. Report it to your bank or credit union immediately, as the FTC advises for Zelle and bank transfers.
  2. Ask them to reverse the payment and refund your money.

Payment app

  1. Report it to the payment app, such as Venmo, Cash App or PayPal, immediately. The FTC page shows how to report a scam to some popular payment apps.

Wire transfer company

  1. Report it to the wire transfer company, such as Western Union or MoneyGram, immediately.
  2. Tell them a scammer tricked you into sending money.
  3. Ask them to refund your money.

Credit card or debit card

  1. For a credit card, report it to the card issuer immediately.
  2. For a debit card, report it to your bank or credit union immediately.
  3. Use the number on the back of your card or log in to your account online or through the app.
  4. Ask them to refund your money.
  5. Learn how to limit your losses, because the FTC says federal law protects you from unauthorized use of your credit card and your debit card.

Gift card

  1. Contact the gift card issuer immediately, using the number on the back of the card.
  2. Tell them that a scammer tricked you into giving them the card number and PIN.
  3. Ask them to refund your money.
  4. Keep the gift card and the receipt, if you have it, because you may need them to follow up on your claim.

Cryptocurrency

  1. Contact the cryptocurrency exchange or ATM operator immediately.
  2. Tell them it was a fraudulent transaction.
  3. Ask them to reverse the transaction and refund your money.
  4. Then report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, which the FTC lists as the report to federal law enforcement authorities.
  5. Search for laws in your state through the National Conference of State Legislatures. Cryptocurrency payments do not have the same legal protections as credit and debit cards, but some states have passed laws that might help you.

Cash

  1. If you sent cash through the U.S. mail, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 immediately. For a charge, they can intercept the package, which lets you redirect a domestic shipment that has not been delivered.
  2. If you sent cash through another delivery service, like FedEx or UPS, contact them as soon as possible.

Report the scam

  1. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC can use reports to build cases against scammers, spot trends, educate the public and share data about what is happening in your community.
  2. If you are not sure where to report, use the USAGov "where to report a scam" tool, which helps you find the best agency or organization to report the scam. It asks where the scam took place, what category it falls in and for more details, and takes approximately 1-2 minutes.
  3. If your issue is with a legitimate business that has wronged you, it may not be an actual scam, so see the USAGov complaints section to learn how to file a complaint instead.

If you also gave personal information or access

  1. If a scammer used your Social Security number, go to IdentityTheft.gov to report it, get a customized recovery plan and follow the recovery steps.
  2. If the scammer did not use the number or you are not sure, go to IdentityTheft.gov/databreach and follow the steps to help protect yourself from identity theft.
  3. If you gave away an account password and can still log in, create a new, strong password, change it anywhere you use the same password, and turn on two-factor authentication.
  4. If a scammer had access to your computer or phone, update your security software, run a scan and delete anything it identifies as a problem, then change your passwords and turn on two-factor authentication.
  5. If someone stole your identity, ask the three major credit reporting agencies to place fraud alerts and a credit freeze on your accounts.
  6. Also contact the fraud department at your credit card issuers, your bank and other places where you have accounts. To report identity theft by phone, USAGov lists the FTC number 1-877-438-4338.

Watch for signs after the scam

  1. Treat anyone who says they are the FTC and tells you to transfer your money to "protect it," withdraw cash or buy gold as a scammer, because the FTC will never do that or threaten you. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  2. Review your credit card and bank account statements, and report unauthorized or suspicious transactions.
  3. Watch for warning signs of identity theft, such as bills for items you did not buy, debt collection calls or credit report entries for accounts you did not open, denials of loan applications, or mail that stops coming or goes missing.
  4. Resist pressure to act immediately, because the FTC says anyone who pressures you to pay or give them your personal information is a scammer.
  5. Before you act on any new request for money, tell someone you trust, such as a friend, a family member or a neighbor, because talking about it could help you realize it is a scam.

What to confirm and where to get help

These official pages cover first steps only and do not say how any single claim will end, so before you call, confirm the current steps and phone numbers on the FTC and USAGov pages listed below. For help, contact the company you used to pay, report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, or ask USAGov, where you can ask a real person any government-related question for free; if the scam involved immigration services, see how to find authorized immigration help.

VisaNow.AI is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. This page is general information taken from official government pages; it does not assess anyone's case. An attorney-client relationship arises only with an independent attorney. Check the official pages for current details.

Information current as of 2026-10-29