Help with a scam

First, take a breath. Scammers are good at what they do. Being targeted is not your fault, and acting quickly can help.

If you paid a scammer

Contact the company you used to pay right away. Tell them a scammer tricked you.

Credit or debit card: call the card issuer or your bank, using the number on your card. Ask them to refund your money.
Bank transfer or Zelle: call your bank or credit union. Ask them to reverse the payment and refund your money.
Payment app: report it to the app. Ask them to reverse the payment.
Gift card: contact the company that issued the card. Tell them a scammer got the card number and PIN. Keep the card and the receipt.
Wire transfer: contact the wire transfer company and ask them to refund your money.
Cryptocurrency: contact the exchange or crypto ATM operator. Crypto payments don't have the same protections as cards, so act fast.
Cash sent by mail: call the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455. They may be able to stop the package.

If you gave away a password

Create a new, strong password for that account, and turn on two-step verification. If you used the same password anywhere else, change it there too.

Go to IdentityTheft.gov to report it and get a recovery plan. If you're not sure it was used, start at IdentityTheft.gov/databreach.

If someone got remote access to your computer

Update your security software, run a scan, and delete anything it finds. Then change your passwords and turn on two-step verification.

Report it

ReportFraud.ftc.gov: the FTC can't resolve individual reports, but uses them to investigate and build cases.
ic3.gov: the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, for internet-related crimes.

Watch for a second scam

Some scammers come back pretending they can get your money back for a fee. Never pay upfront for help getting a refund. Government agencies won't ask you to.