The first hour
The first hour
If money moved, act now
These are the calm steps for the next 60 minutes — in order, no decisions under stress.
1
Stop all contact
Hang up immediately. Do not send any more money or information.
2
Contact your bank
Call your bank's fraud line immediately. Ask them to freeze the transaction if possible.
3
Report to authorities
File a police report and report to your country's fraud reporting center (e.g., FTC in US, Action Fraud in UK).
4
Secure your accounts
Change passwords on any accounts the scammer may have accessed. Enable 2FA everywhere.
5
Monitor your credit
Place a fraud alert with credit bureaus. Consider a credit freeze if money was taken.
6
Tell someone you trust
Don't face this alone. Tell a family member or friend what happened for support.
Remember
You are not alone. Scammers rely on shame and urgency. Reporting helps stop them.