You've been scammed, now what?! Here's what to do next.
Cell phones, landlines, texts, and snail mail. Today, there are so many ways for con artists to scam you. So, don't blame yourself if you've fallen into their devious trap. Fraud happens to thousands of other good folks, just like you, every day.
Scammers, fraudsters, and con artists can be persuasive – remember that tricking trusting people is their full-time job. And they are very good at it! The good news is that once you've gotten over the initial shock, there are smart and simple steps you can take to get things back to normal.
What to do if a Scammer has Your Money.
Credit and debit cards make life very convenient. Unfortunately, conniving con artists know how to use the convenience of these cards to gain access to your money.
Thankfully, most credit card companies make it relatively easy for you to contact them and let them know what's happened. The key is to call them as quickly as possible before the fraudster can do too much financial damage. The same goes for breached bank accounts, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency cons.
What to do if a Scammer has Your Personal Information.
These days, identity theft can be even more damaging to your life than regular old theft. If you've mistakenly given a scammer personal information like your social security number or financial account data, it's time to take quick, decisive action. If you feel a scammer has your social security number, get to The Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft website IdentityTheft.gov. The FTC makes it easy for you to report an identity theft and then develop a recovery plan.
What to do if a Scammer has Access to Your Phone or Computer.
It sure is fun to constantly create new, un-rememberable alphanumeric passwords, isn't it? (JK – New passwords are the worst!)
However, if a fraudster has hacked your laptop or cell phone, creating a new, STRONG password is your smart and simple move. (And when we're talking strong, we're talking CAPS, a smattering of symbols, and nothing obvious like your dog's name. Max123? Not strong enough!)
The annoyances that make a password strong and secure for you also make it less hackable the next time the bad guys want your info. Also, be sure to update your computer's security software and contact your cell provider to take back control of your phone number.
How to Report a Scammer to the Authorities.
Again, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) exists to help Americans who've been the victim of the scams we've detailed in this post. In addition to IdentityTheft.gov, you can also go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov if you experience scammers and fraudsters operating in your community. So, if you see something that looks like a scam, log on and report it. Honest folks reporting scams is one of the best ways to keep them from happening in the first place.
Test your knowledge of common scams with our Know Your Risk quizzes. See if you can spot a Romance Scam, Imposter Scam, and more.