How to
I got scammed. What do I do now, and can I get my money back?
Key points
- First
- Contact the company you used to pay right away: your card issuer, bank, payment app, wire service, gift card company or crypto exchange. Say it was a scam and ask them to reverse the payment.
- Credit card
- You owe $50 at most for unauthorized use. To dispute a charge in writing, your letter must arrive within 60 days after the first statement showing it.
- Debit and bank
- For transfers you didn't make or allow, report within 2 business days of learning your card or PIN was lost or stolen, and within 60 days of the statement.
- Report
- ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov and your state attorney general. Anyone who asks for an upfront fee to get your money back is a scammer, the FTC says.
Contact the company you used to pay right away, tell them it was a scam, and ask them to reverse the payment and refund your money. That means your credit card issuer, your bank or credit union, the payment app, the wire transfer company, the gift card company or the cryptocurrency exchange. Then report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC says your money might already be gone, but it's always worth asking.
How much the law protects you depends on how you paid. Federal law limits what you owe for unauthorized credit card charges and for electronic transfers from your bank account that you didn't make, and gives you a written dispute process for credit card charges. Wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency and cash are much harder to get back. Below: what to do for each way you paid, the deadlines, where to report, what to say to the bank, and how to spot the recovery scams that target people who were already scammed.
What to do right away
- Stop all contact and don't send more money. The FBI says to cut off contact with the scammers and tell your financial institutions, so they can protect your accounts.
- Contact the company you used to pay. Use the number on the back of your card, your statement, or the company's app or official website, not a number the scammer gave you. Tell them it was a scam and ask them to reverse the payment and refund your money. The sooner you act, the better.
- Follow up in writing. A credit card dispute must be in writing to protect your rights. A bank can ask you to confirm a phone report in writing within 10 business days. Keep copies of your letters and notes of every call.
- Report the scam. At ReportFraud.ftc.gov, to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov, and to your state attorney general. You can also report it to your local police.
- Protect your accounts and your identity. If you gave out account logins, change those passwords and turn on two-factor authentication. If a scammer had access to your computer or phone, update your security software and run a scan. If you gave out your Social Security number, see what to do after identity theft.
- Keep the evidence. Receipts, the gift card and store receipt, wire and crypto receipts, canceled checks, emails, texts, chat transcripts and phone bills. Keep the originals somewhere safe; an agency that investigates may ask you for them.
What to do, by how you paid
Scammers ask you to pay in ways that make it hard to track them down. Find the way you paid:
| If… | What to do | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card: you paid a scammer with it, or someone used it without your permission | Call the card issuer right away, using the number on the back of your card or its app, and ask for a refund. Then send a written dispute to the address for billing errors, not the payment address, so it arrives within 60 days after the first statement showing the charge was sent to you. | Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, a charge you didn't make and a charge for things you didn't accept or that weren't delivered as agreed are billing errors. You owe at most $50 for unauthorized use, and nothing for charges after you report the card lost or stolen. |
| Debit card, bank transfer or Zelle: you paid a scammer this way, or money left your account without your permission | Report it to your bank or credit union immediately and ask them to reverse the payment and refund your money. For a transfer you didn't make or allow, report it within 2 business days after you learn your card or PIN was lost or stolen, and no later than 60 days after the statement showing it was sent. | The Electronic Fund Transfer Act and Regulation E limit what you owe for unauthorized electronic transfers: those someone else started without your permission, including someone who got your card, PIN or other access from you by fraud. If you sent the money yourself, report it anyway and ask for a refund. |
| Wire transfer: through a company like MoneyGram, Ria or Western Union, or through your bank | Contact the wire transfer company or your bank right away. Tell them it was a fraudulent transfer and ask them to reverse it and give your money back. The FTC lists fraud numbers for the big wire companies. | The FTC says wiring money is like sending cash: once you send it, you usually can't get it back. For an international transfer of more than $15 through a remittance transfer provider, you generally have 30 minutes after paying to cancel at no charge, unless the money was already picked up or deposited. |
| Payment app like Venmo, Cash App or PayPal | Report it to the payment app immediately, through the app's own support or official website, and ask them to reverse the payment and refund your money. The CFPB says to contact your bank or the payment company right away. | The FTC says that once you send money through an app, it's hard to get it back. If you bought something through the app with your credit card and it never came, the credit card billing error rules can apply when the card was charged for that purchase, at the time, for the full amount. |
| Gift card: you gave someone the numbers from the back of the card | Contact the gift card company right away, using the number on the back of the card. Tell them a scammer tricked you into giving them the card number and PIN, and ask for your money back. Report it no matter how long ago it happened, and tell the store where you bought the card. | Keep the card and the store receipt. The FTC says some companies might give your money back, and some can freeze money still on the card. No real business or government agency will tell you to pay with a gift card. |
| Cryptocurrency, including a crypto ATM | Contact the cryptocurrency exchange or ATM operator right away. Tell them it was a fraudulent transaction and ask them to reverse it and refund your money. Then report it to the FTC and the FBI's IC3. | Crypto payments don't have the legal protections that credit and debit cards have, and typically aren't reversible: usually you get money back only if the person you paid sends it back. The FTC says some states have passed laws that might help, and also lists the CFTC and the SEC as places to report. |
| Cash sent by mail or a delivery service | Sent by U.S. mail: call the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 immediately. For a fee, USPS Package Intercept can redirect a domestic package that hasn't been delivered. Sent by FedEx, UPS or another service: contact it as soon as possible. | Act fast: interception only works before the package is delivered. |
| Check or money order you sent | Check: ask your bank or credit union to stop payment right away. Money order: contact the company that issued it to see if you can stop payment, and try to stop delivery through the Postal Inspection Service or the delivery service you used. | Your bank may charge a stop-payment fee. The CFPB says most states' laws keep a check from being cashed for six months if you ask in writing before it is fully processed. |
| Someone sent you a check and asked you to send part of it back | Don't send any money. Tell your bank or credit union, and, if it came through a marketplace or auction site, tell the site too. | Seeing the money in your account doesn't mean the check is good; it can take weeks for a bank to find out. If the check is fake, the bank can take the money back even after you withdrew it, and you will have to pay it back. |
Scammed through Zelle: what to do now
Go to your bank or credit union first. The FTC's advice for Zelle is the same as for a bank transfer: report it to your bank or credit union immediately, and ask them to reverse the payment and refund your money. Then report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov, which the CFPB suggests for online scams involving payment apps.
- Someone else sent the money, for example after tricking you into sharing your login or other account access information: the CFPB says that is an unauthorized transfer under Regulation E. Your bank must investigate, and the limits on what you owe apply. Report it within 60 days of the statement.
- You sent the money yourself because a scammer lied to you: Regulation E defines an unauthorized transfer as one started by someone other than you, so its limits may not apply. Report it anyway and ask for a refund.
Scammed through PayPal: what to do now
Report it to PayPal right away and ask them to reverse the payment and refund your money, as the FTC advises for payment apps. The FTC's guide points to PayPal's Resolution Center for reporting it. Use the app or PayPal's official website, not a phone number or link someone sent you.
- The money came from a linked bank account or card? Also contact that bank or card issuer right away and tell them there may have been an unauthorized transaction, as the CFPB suggests. For a card purchase that never arrived, the credit card billing-error rules can apply.
- Someone got into your PayPal account and sent money without your permission? The CFPB says a payment app that holds your account is a financial institution under Regulation E, with a duty to investigate errors you report.
Then report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov.
Your rights when you dispute a card or bank charge
Credit cards: the Fair Credit Billing Act and Regulation Z.
- $50 at most for unauthorized use. Unauthorized use means use by someone without your permission from which you get no benefit, including someone who got your card from you through fraud. Your share can't be more than $50. If you still have the card but someone stole and used the number, the CFPB says you generally owe nothing.15 U.S.C. § 1643(a) · 12 C.F.R. § 1026.12(b)
- Dispute in writing within 60 days. Billing errors include a charge you didn't make and a charge for things you didn't accept or that weren't delivered as agreed. Your written notice must reach the issuer, at the address it gives for billing errors, within 60 days after it sent the first statement showing the error.15 U.S.C. § 1666(a) · 12 C.F.R. § 1026.13(a)-(b)
- 30 days to answer, 90 days at most to resolve. The issuer must acknowledge your notice in writing within 30 days and resolve it within two complete billing cycles, and never later than 90 days. If it decides you owe the money, it must explain why in writing.15 U.S.C. § 1666(a) · 12 C.F.R. § 1026.13(c), (f)
- While it investigates. You don't have to pay the disputed amount or related charges, and the issuer can't try to collect it, report it as delinquent, or close or restrict your account only because you disputed in good faith.12 C.F.R. § 1026.13(d)
Debit cards and bank transfers: the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and Regulation E.
- What counts as unauthorized. An electronic transfer from your account started by someone else without your permission and from which you got no benefit. It includes a transfer by someone who got your card, PIN or other access from you through fraud. It doesn't include a transfer by someone you gave your card or access to, unless you told the bank they are no longer allowed to use it.12 C.F.R. § 1005.2(m)
- What you can owe depends on how fast you report. Card or PIN lost or stolen: $50 at most if you tell the bank within 2 business days after you learn of it, and up to $500 if you tell it later. If you don't report an unauthorized transfer within 60 days after the statement showing it was sent, you can be liable for transfers made after those 60 days.15 U.S.C. § 1693g(a) · 12 C.F.R. § 1005.6(b)
- Card still with you? Report within 60 days. If you didn't lose your card or PIN, you aren't responsible for unauthorized transfers you report within 60 days after your statement is sent. If extended travel or a hospital stay kept you from reporting in time, the bank must extend the deadlines to a reasonable period.12 C.F.R. § 1005.6(b)(3)-(4)
- The bank's deadlines. Once you report, the bank generally must investigate within 10 business days (20 if the account is less than 30 days old) and correct an error within one business day after finding it. If it needs longer, up to 45 days or 90 for some transfers, it generally must credit your account provisionally within 10 business days, less up to $50.12 C.F.R. § 1005.11(c)
- Confirm in writing if asked. If you report by phone, the bank can ask you to confirm in writing within 10 business days, and must tell you where to send it. If you don't, it doesn't have to give you the provisional credit.12 C.F.R. § 1005.11(b)(2), (c)(2)(i)
What to say to the bank's fraud team
“How can we help you today?”
You can say: “I'm reporting fraud. On [date] I paid $[amount] to a scammer by [how I paid]. Please reverse the payment and refund my money.”
“Our records show you authorized this payment.”
You can say: “I'm reporting it as fraud today. Please open a claim, give me the claim number, and send me your decision in writing.”
“You'll need to confirm this in writing.”
You can ask: “What address do I send it to, and by what date do you need it?”
“That's a credit card charge, so take it up with the seller first.”
You can say: “I'm disputing it as a billing error: I never got what I paid for. I'll send my written notice to your billing-error address.”
“Wire transfers and crypto can't be reversed.”
You can say: “Please try to reverse it anyway, and note that I reported the fraud today.”
“We're a recovery service. We can get your money back for a small fee.”
You can say: “No. I only deal with my bank and the government agencies directly.”
Write down who you talked to, when, and what they said, and keep copies of every letter you send. Contact the bank or company only through the number on your card or statement or its official website.
Where to report the scam
The CFPB says to contact the FBI, the FTC, your state attorney general or your local police. Reporting doesn't get your money back by itself: the FTC can't resolve your individual report, and the IC3 doesn't investigate complaints itself or give status updates. They share reports with law enforcement to investigate and bring cases, and the IC3 says reports sometimes help the FBI freeze stolen funds.
What to include. The FBI asks for as much of this as you have:
- Who contacted you: names, phone numbers, email addresses and websites.
- How they contacted you, and how you were told to pay.
- Each payment: the date, type and amount, account numbers, the name and address of the bank that received it, and any cryptocurrency addresses.
- What happened, in your own words, including what information you gave the scammer.
Watch out for recovery scams
People who already lost money are targeted again. The FTC says scammers buy and trade lists of people who paid scammers, then contact them claiming they can get the money back or recover the prize or item they never got. You just have to pay first. If you do, you'll lose more money.
- They ask for an upfront fee, whatever they call it: a retainer, processing fee, administrative charge, tax, or shipping and handling.
- They say they're from a government agency, a consumer group or a law firm, or even from the company that took your money, offering refunds.
- They ask for your Social Security, bank, debit or credit card number to "deposit your refund".
- They say they're holding money for you, offer to file complaints with government agencies for you, or promise to put your name at the top of a reimbursement list.
- They want payment by cash, gift card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer or a payment app.
- They send a refund check for more than you lost and ask you to return the difference.
- Agencies don't charge to get your money back. The FTC says government agencies and legitimate organizations will never ask for money to help you get a refund. The FBI says the IC3 won't ask for payment to recover lost funds or refer you to a company that does, and doesn't work with law firms or crypto services to recover funds.FTC: Refund and recovery scams · FBI IC3
- No fee first from a telemarketer. Under the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule, a seller or telemarketer may not ask for or take a fee to recover money you lost until 7 business days after the money is delivered to you. This doesn't apply to services from a licensed attorney.16 C.F.R. § 310.4(a)(3)
Lost money to a recovery scam? Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general.
Common signs of a scam
The FTC lists four signs:
- They pretend to be from an organization you know, like the FTC, Social Security, the IRS, Medicare, a utility, a tech company or a charity. The name and number on caller ID can be faked.
- They say there's a problem or a prize: you're in trouble with the government, you owe money, a family member has an emergency, your computer has a virus, or you won a prize but have to pay a fee to get it.
- They pressure you to act immediately, tell you not to hang up, or threaten arrest, a lawsuit, losing your license or deportation.
- They tell you to pay in a specific way: cryptocurrency, a wire transfer through a company like MoneyGram or Western Union, a payment app, or a gift card whose numbers you give them. Or they send you a check, tell you to deposit it and send money back.
Scam recovery checklist
- I contacted the card issuer, bank, app, wire company, gift card company or crypto exchange I paid through and asked them to reverse the payment.
- I wrote down the date, the name of each person I spoke to and every claim number.
- Credit card: my written dispute will reach the billing-error address within 60 days after the first statement showing the charge.
- Debit card or bank: I reported within 2 business days of learning my card or PIN was stolen, and within 60 days of the statement.
- I sent any written confirmation my bank asked for within 10 business days.
- I reported the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov, and saved a copy of my IC3 complaint.
- I contacted my state attorney general, and my local police if I want a police report.
- I kept receipts, gift cards, wire and crypto receipts, emails, texts and phone records.
- I changed passwords and turned on two-factor authentication for any account I gave out.
- I won't pay anyone who offers to get my money back for a fee.
Common questions
Can I get my money back after a scam?
It depends on how you paid and how fast you act. Federal law limits what you owe for unauthorized credit card charges and electronic transfers you didn't make, and gives you a dispute process for credit card charges. Wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency and cash are much harder to get back. The FTC says your money might already be gone, but it's always worth asking the company you used to reverse the payment.
How long do I have to dispute a credit card charge?
Call the card issuer right away, then send a written notice so it arrives within 60 days after the first statement showing the charge was sent to you. The issuer must acknowledge it within 30 days and resolve it within two billing cycles, and never later than 90 days. See your card and bank rights.
I sent money to a scammer with Zelle or a bank transfer. Will my bank refund it?
Report it to your bank or credit union immediately and ask them to reverse the payment. Regulation E's limits on what you owe cover unauthorized transfers: ones someone else started without your permission, including someone who got your card, PIN or other access from you by fraud. If you sent the money yourself, report it anyway and ask for a refund.
I got scammed on PayPal. Can I get my money back?
Report it to PayPal immediately, through its app or official website, and ask them to reverse the payment, as the FTC advises. If the money came from a linked bank account or card, tell that bank or card issuer too. The FTC says it's hard to get money back once it's sent through an app, but it's always worth asking. Report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov.
Should I report the scam to the FTC or the FBI?
You can report to both: the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov for scams that used the internet, email or phone. The CFPB also suggests your state attorney general and your local police. The FTC can't resolve individual reports and the IC3 doesn't investigate complaints itself, but both share reports with law enforcement.
Someone says they can recover my money for a fee. Is that real?
Treat it as a scam. The FTC says anyone who asks for an upfront fee, or for your financial account numbers, to get you a refund is a scammer, and government agencies never ask for money to help you get a refund. The IC3 doesn't work with law firms or crypto services to recover lost funds and never contacts people directly for information or money.
I deposited a check from a stranger and sent some money back. What now?
Tell your bank or credit union right away and don't send any more money. If the check turns out to be fake, the bank can take the money back even after you withdrew it, and you will have to pay it back. It can take weeks for a bank to find out a check was fake.
Official sources
- FTC: What to do if you were scammed consumer.ftc.gov
- FTC: How to avoid a scam consumer.ftc.gov
- FTC: Refund and recovery scams consumer.ftc.gov
- FTC: Using credit cards and disputing charges consumer.ftc.gov
- FTC: Lost or stolen credit, ATM and debit cards consumer.ftc.gov
- FTC: What to know before you wire money consumer.ftc.gov
- FTC: Avoiding and reporting gift card scams consumer.ftc.gov
- FTC: What to know about cryptocurrency and scams consumer.ftc.gov
- FTC: Mobile payment apps, how to avoid a scam consumer.ftc.gov
- FTC: How to spot, avoid and report fake check scams consumer.ftc.gov
- FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov reportfraud.ftc.gov
- CFPB: Who do I contact for help with a scam or fraud? consumerfinance.gov
- CFPB: What are some common types of fraud and scams? consumerfinance.gov
- CFPB: Getting money back after an unauthorized transaction from your bank account consumerfinance.gov
- CFPB: How do I dispute a charge on my credit card bill? consumerfinance.gov
- CFPB: Am I responsible for unauthorized charges if my credit cards are lost or stolen? consumerfinance.gov
- CFPB: What is a remittance transfer and what are my rights? consumerfinance.gov
- CFPB: How do I stop payment on a check? consumerfinance.gov
- CFPB: Overpayment checks and money orders from buyers consumerfinance.gov
- CFPB: Submit a complaint about a financial product or service consumerfinance.gov
- Regulation E, 12 C.F.R. § 1005.2: definitions, including unauthorized electronic fund transfer consumerfinance.gov
- Regulation E, 12 C.F.R. § 1005.6: liability for unauthorized transfers consumerfinance.gov
- Regulation E, 12 C.F.R. § 1005.11: procedures for resolving errors consumerfinance.gov
- Regulation Z, 12 C.F.R. § 1026.12: unauthorized use of a credit card consumerfinance.gov
- Regulation Z, 12 C.F.R. § 1026.13: billing error resolution consumerfinance.gov
- 15 U.S.C. § 1666: Correction of billing errors (Fair Credit Billing Act) govinfo.gov
- 15 U.S.C. § 1643: Liability of holder of credit card govinfo.gov
- 15 U.S.C. § 1693g: Consumer liability for unauthorized transfers (Electronic Fund Transfer Act) govinfo.gov
- 16 C.F.R. § 310.4: Telemarketing Sales Rule, abusive practices (1-1-26 edition) govinfo.gov
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) ic3.gov
- IC3: Frequently asked questions ic3.gov
- FBI public service announcement: scammers impersonating the IC3 (Apr. 18, 2025) ic3.gov
- FBI public service announcement: scammers impersonating law enforcement and government officials (Sept. 17, 2026) ic3.gov
- USAGov: State attorneys general usa.gov
- CFPB: Electronic Fund Transfers FAQs (Regulation E), including P2P payment providers and fraudulently induced access consumerfinance.gov
Related
This page explains the law in general terms. It is not legal advice about your situation. Justice is not a law firm and is not affiliated with any court or government agency.