What should I do if I have been scammed online?

If you have been scammed online, block the scammer from contacting you. It can be tempting to stay involved in the hope you will get some of your money back. You must not make any more payments. Some scammers target people caught in recent scams, eg by pretending to be an overseas enforcement agency that can return all of your money for a fee.

What to do if you get scammed on money transfer?

Report the fraudulent transaction to the company behind the money transfer app and ask if they can reverse the payment. If you linked the app to a credit card or debit card, report the fraud to your credit card company or bank. Ask if they can reverse the charge. Did you pay with cryptocurrency?

What to do if you have been scammed by Western Union?

You can also try to determine if the scammers have been caught and if it’s a large-scale scam there may be a settlement. A recent settlement has forced Western Union to refund people who were scammed between January 1, 2004, and January 19, 2017, and used Western Union to pay the scammer.

What happens if you get scammed by an overseas enforcement agency?

You must not make any more payments. Some scammers target people caught in recent scams, eg by pretending to be an overseas enforcement agency that can return all of your money for a fee. Don’t give money to anyone on the promise they will get your lost money back.

What do you do if you get scammed through a bank?

Contact the bank or service you sent money through If you are the victim of a financial scam, credit card scam or identity theft, contact your bank immediately. They will have a policy in place to deal with fraud. If you have sent money through another bank or transfer service, it’s a good idea to contact the service you used.

How many people get scammed each year?

No matter their exact approach, scammers try to trick consumers into handing over either money or personal information. In 2019, U.S. consumers reported more than 3.2 million scams to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), according to the agency’s report of the top scams in 2019.

What should I do if I am a victim of financial fraud?

If you are the victim of a financial scam, credit card scam or identity theft, contact your bank immediately. They will have a policy in place to deal with fraud. If you have sent money through another bank or transfer service, it’s a good idea to contact the service you used. Reporting is an important step.