Find out what to do if you paid someone you think is a scammer, or if you gave a scammer your personal information or access to your computer or phone. Show Scammers can be very convincing. They call, email, and send us text messages trying to get our money or sensitive personal information — like our Social Security or account numbers. And they're good at what they do. Here’s what to do if you paid someone you think is a scammer or gave them your personal information or access to your computer or phone. If you paid a scammer, your money might be gone already. No matter how you paid, it’s always worth asking the company you used to send the money if there’s a way to get it back. If You Paid a Scammer
If You Gave a Scammer Your Personal Information
If a Scammer Has Access to Your Computer or Phone
Report a Scam to the FTCWhen you report a scam, the FTC can use the information to build cases against scammers, spot trends, educate the public, and share data about what is happening in your community. If you experienced a scam — or even spotted one, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Check out what’s going on in your state or metro area by visiting ftc.gov/exploredata. Can you put a freeze on your Social Security number?If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, you can request to Block Electronic Access. This is done by calling our National 800 number (Toll Free 1-800-772-1213 or at our TTY number at 1-800-325-0778).
What do I do if I gave my information to a scammer?Call the bank's hot line, usually printed on the back of your bank card, and report the incident. If you have transferred money to a phisher, report the incident to your local police. Inspect your statements carefully for signs of account misuse. Determine if you want to put a lock on your credit records.
|