A free, step-by-step guide if you've been scammed
One step at a time. Here's what to do first.
Five short questions about what happened. Then you get the calls to make first — your bank, the right hotline, the right agency, in the right order.
And a generated draft you can use for the official reports and communications that follow.
- 1.Answer five short questions about what happened.
- 2.See an ordered plan — calls to make first, then the agencies and forms that apply to your case, with the deadlines that matter.
- 3.Get editable drafts of every report you'll need to file — bank dispute, police, FBI IC3, FTC, and more. Copy, edit, send them yourself.
Free, self-serve, not a commercial service
A free public guide — no signup, no payment, no appointment. Whatever you type stays in this browser tab; close it and it's gone. Not a consultation service, and not affiliated with any.
One warning before you go any further
If someone you didn't already know contacts you offering to recover the money — a "recovery agent," a "blockchain investigator," an "FBI compliance officer" — they are themselves running a scam. Recovery scammers find their targets by buying lists of confirmed victims. Block them. The plan below uses only official, free channels, and no real recovery channel will message you privately offering help.
Free, official help from a real person
If you'd like to talk to someone before filing, these are free public services. They cannot recover funds for you, but they will walk you through what to do next.
- AARP Fraud Watch Helpline — 877-908-3360. Free, 7 days/week, you do not need to be an AARP member or over 50. Trained volunteers who specialize in scam recovery guidance.
- FTC ReportFraud advisor — reportfraud.ftc.gov. After filing, the FTC sometimes connects you with a consumer- advice specialist.
- FTC IdentityTheft.gov — identitytheft.gov. Best place to start if your Social Security number, accounts, or personal information were exposed.
- FBI IC3 — ic3.gov. Federal intake for internet-enabled crime.
- CFPB — consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Use this if your bank refuses your fraud dispute.
- Your state Attorney General — naag.org/find-my-ag.
- National Elder Fraud Hotline — 833-372-8311. US Dept of Justice line for victims age 60+. Free.