What To Do if You Were Scammed (2024)

FAQs

What To Do if You Were Scammed? ›

Contact your bank immediately to let them know what's happened and ask if you can get a refund. Most banks should reimburse you if you've transferred money to someone because of a scam.

Contact your bank immediately to let them know what's happened and ask if you can get a refund. Most banks should reimburse you if you've transferred money to someone because of a scam.

Monitor and change your thinking.

If you are ruminating about what happened, and focused on negative self-talk, you are going to feel terrible. Switch your thinking to the things you CAN do, forgive yourself because it is really true that we all make mistakes sometimes.

Contact the company or bank that issued the credit card or debit card. Tell them it was a fraudulent charge. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.

Individuals should first report the number to authorities and then use reverse phone lookup services to potentially identify the owner. It's advised to involve law enforcement as they can use legal tools to trace the number and locate the scammer.

It's common for people to feel ashamed or embarrassed if they have fallen victim to a scam. You should reassure them that this isn't their fault; scammers use tactics that can trick anyone. If the person has been the victim of a scam, help them to report.

The easiest way to become a victim of a bank scam is to share your banking info — e.g., account numbers, PIN codes, social security number — with someone you don't know well and trust. If someone asks for sensitive banking details, proceed with caution.

By the time you realize you've been a victim of bank transfer fraud, it's usually too late. Scammers have received the money, transferred it to another account, and disappeared. Falling victim to phishing, pharming, or CEO fraud unfortunately doesn't qualify for reversing a wire transfer.

What is the emotional trauma of being scammed? ›

You might feel vulnerable and helpless, as well as a host of other emotions such as shame and embarrassment, anxiety, guilt, depression and fear, anger, grief, and a loss of trust and sense of security.

The bank must provide a provisional credit to your account within 10 days, and it has up to 45 days to complete the investigation. If the bank determines that the charge was fraudulent, it must refund your money and remove the charge from your account [*].

Scammers use sophisticated psychological techniques. They exploit our deepest human vulnerabilities and bypass rational thought to tap into our emotional responses. This “psychological warfare” coerces victims into making impulsive decisions.

If someone gains access to your bank account and routing numbers, they can use the information to fraudulently withdraw or transfer money from your account. They can also create fake checks, claim your tax return or commit other forms of financial fraud.

If someone uses your SSN to obtain credit, loans, telephone accounts, or other goods and services, contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC collects complaints about identity theft from those whose identities have been stolen.