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If You've Been Scammed

Take a Deep Breath - Here's What to Do Right Now

⚠️ Do These First - Right Now

Don't wait. Don't read the whole page first. Do these immediately:

1. If the scammer is still on the phone: HANG UP. Don't say goodbye, don't argue, just hang up.

2. If you gave them remote access to your computer: Turn off your computer RIGHT NOW. Hold the power button until it shuts down. Unplug it from the internet.

3. If you sent money, gift cards, or gave bank info: Call your bank's fraud department immediately. The number is on the back of your card. Tell them you were scammed.

4. If you're feeling overwhelmed: Call a trusted friend or family member. You don't have to handle this alone.

You're Not Alone

And You're Not Stupid

Scammers are professionals who do this full-time. They use psychological manipulation that works on smart people every day. Even cybersecurity experts fall for scams sometimes.

Taking action quickly is what matters now. You found this page, which means you're already doing the right thing.

What Happened? Choose Your Situation

💻

I Gave Someone Remote Access to My Computer

This is serious but fixable. Here's what to do:

  1. Turn off your computer and disconnect from internet (unplug ethernet or turn off WiFi)
  2. Do NOT turn it back on yet
  3. From a different device (phone, tablet, friend's computer):
    • Change all your important passwords
    • Check your bank accounts
    • Enable two-factor authentication
  4. Take your computer to a trusted local repair shop. Tell them someone had remote access. They'll likely need to reinstall Windows/macOS.
  5. File a police report for documentation
Don't feel bad about taking it to a professional. This is what they're for. Expect to pay $100-200 for proper cleanup.
💳

I Sent Money, Gift Cards, or Gave Banking Info

Time is critical. Act fast:

  1. Call your bank RIGHT NOW - Number on back of your card
  2. If you sent gift cards: Call the company (Apple, Amazon, Google) with the card numbers
  3. If you wired money: Contact the wire transfer company immediately
  4. File a police report - even if they say they can't help
  5. Report to FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
  6. Check your credit report free at AnnualCreditReport.com
  7. Consider a credit freeze: FTC credit freeze guide
🔑

I Gave Them My Passwords or Personal Information

Passwords can be changed. Here's your action plan:

  1. Change ALL your passwords - start with:
    • Email (most important!)
    • Bank and credit cards
    • Shopping sites
    • Social media
  2. Enable two-factor authentication everywhere
  3. Check your email settings (they may have set it to forward your emails to themselves):
    • Gmail: Click the gear icon → "See all settings" → "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab → Make sure nothing is listed under forwarding
    • Outlook/Hotmail: Click gear icon → "View all Outlook settings" → "Mail" → "Forwarding" → Make sure it's turned off
    • Yahoo: Click gear icon → "More Settings" → "Mailboxes" → Check forwarding is off
    • Not sure? Call a trusted family member or friend to help you check, or take it to your local library - they often have tech help
  4. Monitor accounts closely for 3-6 months
  5. If you gave your Social Security number: File at IdentityTheft.gov
❓

I'm Not Sure What Happened

When in doubt, assume the worst and protect everything:

  1. Change your important passwords
  2. Check bank and credit card statements
  3. Enable two-factor authentication
  4. Watch for follow-up scams - scammers often try again
  5. Don't pay "recovery" services - these are often scams too

📞 Important Numbers & Resources

🏦 Your Bank/Credit Card

Call the fraud department immediately. Number is usually on the back of your card.

Available 24/7

🚨 Local Police

File a report for documentation. Use non-emergency number, not 911.

Look up: "[Your city] police non-emergency"

📋 Federal Trade Commission

Report the scam officially:

ReportFraud.ftc.gov

IdentityTheft.gov (for identity theft)

💻 FBI Internet Crime

For larger scams or organized crime:

IC3.gov

🔒 Credit Freeze

Freeze your credit for free:

Equifax
Experian
TransUnion

📧 Contact Richard

Have questions? Need clarification?

Get in Touch

Moving Forward

You're Going to Be Okay

You've taken the right steps by finding this information and taking action. Most people recover from scams without lasting damage if they act quickly - which you're doing.

Learn from this, but don't beat yourself up. Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics. What matters is that you're more aware now.

If you need to talk through what happened or have questions, don't hesitate to reach out.