What should I do immediately after sending money to a scammer?
Act within hours, not days: contact your bank or payment platform immediately, report to the FTC and relevant agencies, and document everything — early action maximises your chance of any recovery.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
The moments after realising you have sent money to a scammer are critical. The speed of your response directly affects whether any recovery is possible, because scammers typically move funds within hours of receiving them.
For bank transfers and wire transfers: call your bank's fraud hotline immediately — not the general customer service line. Explain the situation and ask them to initiate a wire recall or payment recall. Get a reference number for this request. Your bank has specific fraud procedures; triggering them quickly is essential.
For credit card payments: call your card issuer and dispute the charge. The Fair Credit Billing Act dispute window starts from the statement date, but acting now means the dispute is logged while you still remember all the details.
For peer-to-peer apps (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, PayPal F&F): report through the app's support channel and simultaneously report to the FTC. Ask the platform to freeze the receiving account if possible.
For gift cards: call the number on the back of the card and report the fraud immediately. Ask whether the balance has been redeemed. Then report to the FTC.
In parallel with the above: file reports with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and, for amounts over $10,000 or international fraud, with the FBI IC3 at ic3.gov. Document everything: screenshots, email threads, phone numbers, account names, transaction IDs.
Finally, check whether you shared any personal information — if so, consider a credit freeze and identity monitoring. Visit /recovery for the complete post-scam checklist.
Common red flags
- The realisation that an opportunity was too good to be true
- Contact with the other party goes quiet or stops after money was sent
- Payment method you used was one the person specifically insisted on
- Promised goods, services, or returns have not materialised
What to do now
- Call your bank fraud hotline right now — every minute matters for wire recalls
- Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov within the same day
- Report to FBI IC3 at ic3.gov for amounts over $10,000 or any international wire
- For gift cards, call the issuer number on the back of the card immediately
- Screenshot and save all communications, transaction records, and any contact information you have
- Visit /recovery for the full step-by-step post-scam action checklist
Frequently asked questions
Is there any chance of getting money back after a scam?
Recovery rates are low overall, but not zero. Credit card chargebacks, fast wire recalls, and blocked gift card balances all succeed in some cases. The key variable is speed: every hour of delay reduces the chance. File reports regardless of the amount — they help future investigations.
Should I confront the scammer directly to try to get my money back?
No. Confronting the scammer rarely results in recovery and can lead to further manipulation, threats, or escalation. Direct your energy to official channels — your bank, the FTC, and law enforcement. Document all contact they initiated but do not engage further.