What we verified in “I was scammed: what to do in the first hours”

Statements and where we checked them

The statements with rules, figures or dates, with the exact place in the source and the date we checked them.

1. The IRS says that if you lost money or information to a scammer, you should immediately stop interacting with the scammer, not send money or share personal information, contact your financial institution and follow the steps on IdentityTheft.gov; that you can get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) to keep scammers from filing a tax return in your name; that if your Social Security number or ITIN was stolen, you should report it to IdentityTheft.gov and to the IRS; and that some scam victims get scammed again, so be cautious if someone offers to help you get your money back.

   Sources 1 · If you were scammed (IRS, last reviewed or updated Jun. 27, 2026): 'Immediately stop interacting with the scammer'; 'Don’t send money or share personal information'; 'Contact your financial institution'; 'Follow the steps on IdentityTheft.gov'; 'Get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) to prevent scammers from filing a tax return in your name'; 'If your Social Security number (SSN) or individual tax identification number (ITIN) was stolen'; 'Some scam victims get scammed again'; 'Be cautious if someone offers to help you get your money back' · Checked October 17, 2026

2. The CFPB says that if you think you made a money transfer or mobile app payment to a scammer, you should contact your bank or the payment company right away and alert them that there may have been an unauthorized transaction, and that you can also file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov; that scammers use wire transfers, payment apps, gift cards and cryptocurrency; and that if you suspect a scam you should report it to your local police or sheriff and your state attorney general.

   Sources 2 · What are some common types of fraud and scams? (page last modified Aug. 31, 2026), 'Money transfer or mobile payment services fraud': 'If you think you made a money transfer or mobile app payment to a scammer, contact your bank or the payment company right away'; 'alert them that there may have been an unauthorized transaction'; 'file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center'; 'Common payment methods used by scammers': 'Payment apps (person-to-person or P2P)'; 'Gift cards'; 'Cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency ATMs'; 'Contact your local police or sheriff’s office and your state attorney general' · Checked October 17, 2026

3. According to the CFPB, an unauthorized transaction is a charge or withdrawal you did not make or allow, and if it was made with a debit card or other electronic fund transfer you might have additional protections under federal law; once you notify your bank or credit union, it generally has ten business days to investigate (20 if the account has been open less than 30 days), must correct an error within one business day after determining it and has three business days to report its findings; if it cannot finish in time, it must generally issue a temporary credit while it keeps investigating. If you lost your debit card or it was stolen and you notify the bank within two business days of discovering it, you cannot be held responsible for more than $50 or the amount of unauthorized transactions, whichever is less; if you notify it later, you could be responsible for up to $500; and you should notify the bank within 60 days after it sends the statement showing the charge, or you could have to pay for transactions after that period.

   Sources 3 · How do I get my money back after I discover an unauthorized transaction or money missing from my bank account? (page last modified Aug. 31, 2026): 'a charge or withdrawal you didn’t make or allow'; 'you might have additional protections under federal law'; 'it generally has ten business days to investigate the issue'; '20 business days if the account has been open less than 30 days'; 'must correct an error within one business day after determining that an error has occurred'; 'three business days to report its findings to you'; 'it must generally issue a temporary credit to your account'; 'within two business days of discovering the loss or theft of the card'; 'or $50, whichever is less'; 'you could be responsible for up to $500 in unauthorized transactions'; 'you should notify them within 60 days' · Checked October 17, 2026

4. The CFPB says that to dispute a charge on your credit card you should call the card company right away and check your card agreement; that to protect your rights you must also send a written billing error notice within 60 calendar days after the charge appeared on your statement; that the company has 30 days to confirm it received your dispute; that you should keep copies; and that you can dispute a charge even if you already paid it.

   Sources 4 · How do I dispute a charge on my credit card bill? (last reviewed Apr 15, 2024): 'you should call the card company and let them know about the problem right away'; 'Check your credit card agreement to review your rights regarding unauthorized charges'; 'send a written billing error notice to the card company within 60 calendar days after the charge appeared on your statement'; 'the company has 30 days to send you a letter confirming they received your billing dispute'; 'Be sure to keep copies for your records'; 'If you already paid the charge that you’re disputing, you can still dispute it' · Checked October 17, 2026

5. According to the CFPB, the address for billing disputes may be different from the address where you send payments; while the company investigates, you do not have to pay the disputed charges or related finance charges, but you must keep paying correct charges on time; and the company gets another two billing cycles to finish its investigation.

   Sources 5 · How to fix mistakes in your credit card bill (page last modified Jun. 4, 2025): 'The address for billing disputes may be different from the address where you send your payments'; 'You don’t have to pay the disputed fees or charges, or related finance or other charges, while the credit card company investigates your dispute'; 'you are still responsible for paying correct charges on time'; 'It gets another two billing cycles to finish looking into your dispute' · Checked October 17, 2026

6. The CFPB says that if you wired money to a scammer, you should contact your bank or wire-transfer company immediately and ask for a wire recall, because reporting it as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering your money, and file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

   Sources 6 · Mortgage closing scams: How to protect yourself and your closing funds (CFPB): 'Contact your bank or wire-transfer company immediately'; 'Ask for a wire recall'; 'Reporting the error as soon as possible can increase the likelihood that you’ll be able to recover your money'; 'www.ic3.gov' · Checked October 17, 2026

7. According to the CFPB, you may be able to cancel a money transfer depending on the circumstances: review your contract and receipt and contact the company immediately; if you sent money abroad through a remittance transfer provider, you can cancel at no cost if you paid less than 30 minutes ago and the money has not been picked up or deposited, or, for a transfer scheduled in advance, up to three business days before it is made; state law or the provider's rules may give you more time, and your receipt should generally state your cancellation period; and if you have a problem with a wire transfer, contact the company right away and you can submit a complaint to the CFPB.

   Sources 7 · Money transfer frequently asked questions (CFPB, page last modified Dec. 12, 2024): 'You may be able to cancel a money transfer but it depends on the circumstances'; 'review your contract and receipt, and contact the company immediately'; 'The money hasn’t been deposited or picked up by the recipient, and you paid for the transfer less than 30 minutes ago'; 'you can cancel the transfer up to three business days before it is made'; 'state law or the transfer provider’s own rules may give you more time'; 'it should generally state what your cancellation period is'; 'If you have a problem with your wire transfer, contact the company right away and explain the issue' · Checked October 17, 2026

8. The CFPB and the FTC explain that wiring money is like sending cash and once you send it you usually cannot get it back; that as soon as you tell someone the numbers on the back of a gift card, they control the card and your money is gone forever; that no legitimate business or government agency will insist that you pay with a gift card; that cryptocurrency payments do not come with legal protections and you usually cannot get your money back unless the person you paid sends it back; and that you can report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, because the information you share can help protect your community from fraud.

   Sources 8 · How to prevent and report scams targeting older adults (CFPB and FTC, May 2, 2022; page last modified Jun. 25, 2026): 'Wiring money is like sending cash. Once you send it, you usually can’t get it back.'; 'As soon as you tell someone the numbers on the back of the gift card, they get control of the card and your money is gone forever'; 'No legitimate business or government agency will insist that you pay with a gift card'; 'Cryptocurrency payments don’t come with legal protections'; 'you usually can’t get your money back unless the person you paid sends it back'; 'ReportFraud.ftc.gov'; 'The information you share can help protect your community from fraud' · Checked October 17, 2026

9. The CFPB says real government agencies and financial institutions do not threaten you or ask you to send money to protect it; that if you think you or someone you know was the victim of a scam you should contact the FBI, the FTC, your state attorney general or your local police; that you can report the scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov; that you can find your attorney general through the National Association of Attorneys General; and that you should contact the police or sheriff through their nonemergency phone number or website.

   Sources 9 · Who do I contact for help with a scam or fraud? (page last modified Aug. 31, 2026): 'Real government agencies and financial institutions do not threaten you or ask you to send money to'; 'contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), your state attorney general, or your local police'; 'Report the fraud or scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or FBI Internet Crimes Complaint Center at ic3.gov'; 'National Association of Attorneys General'; 'using their nonemergency phone number or website' · Checked October 17, 2026

10. USAGov's where-to-report-a-scam tool helps you find the best agency or organization to report a scam by asking a few questions, and it notes that if your issue is with a legitimate business that has wronged you, it may not be a scam but a complaint.

    Sources 10 · Learn where to report a scam (USAGov): 'helps you find the best agency or organization to report the scam'; 'If your issue is with a legitimate business that has wronged you, it may not be an actual scam' · Checked October 17, 2026

11. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), run by the FBI, is the central hub for reporting cyber-enabled crime; it asks you to file a report even if you are unsure whether your complaint qualifies; it says it will never directly contact you for information or money; that it does not work with any non-law enforcement entity, such as law firms or crypto services, to recover lost funds; and that if someone is in immediate danger you should call 911 or your local police.

    Sources 11 · Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), home page: 'the central hub for reporting cyber-enabled crime'; 'It is run by the FBI'; 'file a report even if you are unsure of whether your complaint qualifies'; 'The IC3 will never directly contact you for information or money'; 'The IC3 does not work with any non-law enforcement entity, such as law firms or crypto services, to recuperate lost funds or investigate cases'; 'If you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call 911 or your local police' · Checked October 17, 2026

12. The CFPB explains that if you are a victim of identity theft you should close affected accounts, contact the fraud departments of your financial institutions and report the theft to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov, where you get an Identity Theft Report and recovery plan; that the FTC never threatens you or asks you to transfer money to protect it; that to place a fraud alert you only need to contact one of the three nationwide credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion), which must notify the others; that an initial alert lasts one year and an extended alert seven years if you filed a report at IdentityTheft.gov; that under federal law you can freeze and unfreeze your credit for free at all three companies, but must contact each one; and that the companies must block fraudulent information within four business days after receiving your request with an identity theft report.

    Sources 12 · What do I do if I am a victim of identity theft? (page last modified Aug. 3, 2026): 'Close any affected accounts'; 'Contact the security or fraud departments at your financial institutions'; 'Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov'; 'You will get an Identity Theft Report and recovery plan'; 'Know that the FTC never threatens you, makes you transfer your money to'; 'Equifax, Experian, or Transunion'; 'it must notify the others'; 'Credit reporting companies keep that alert on your file for one year'; 'An extended alert is good for seven years'; 'you can freeze and unfreeze your credit record for free at the three nationwide credit reporting companies'; 'You must contact each credit reporting company individually'; 'must block fraudulent information from your credit report within four business days after receiving your request' · Checked October 17, 2026

13. The CFPB says that if a scam victim is an older person or a person with a disability, you should contact your local adult protective services agency, which you can find through the online Eldercare Locator or by calling (800) 677-1116; that you can submit a complaint to the CFPB about a financial product or service, with the key facts in your own words, and the company generally responds within 15 days; and that it retains complaint information, including personal information, for 25 years and shares it with certain state and federal agencies as the law allows.

    Sources 13 · Submit a complaint (CFPB, page last modified Oct. 5, 2026): 'If the victim is an older person or a person with a disability, contact your local adult protective services agency'; 'Eldercare Locator'; '(800) 677-1116'; 'Key facts in your own words'; 'Companies generally respond in 15 days'; 'The current retention period for complaints is 25 years'; 'we share your complaint with certain state and federal agencies' · Checked October 17, 2026

14. EOIR (the Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review) takes complaints about fraud, immigration scams and the unauthorized practice of immigration law, frequently committed by notarios, immigration consultants or so-called travel agents, at EOIR.Fraud.Program@usdoj.gov; and it warns that its employees will never call and ask for personal information or money.

    Sources 14 · Fraud and Abuse Prevention Program (EOIR): 'complaints about issues of fraud, immigration scams, and the unauthorized practice of immigration law'; 'frequently committed by notarios, immigration consultants'; 'by emailing EOIR.Fraud.Program@usdoj.gov'; 'EOIR employees will never call and ask for personal information or money' · Checked October 17, 2026