What to Do If You Receive, or Fall for, a Scam Call

Scam calls are designed to catch people off guard, and they work on people of every age, background, and level of experience. If you've received a scam call, or realized after the fact that you've been tricked, you're far from alone, and there's a lot you can do.

What you do next matters, and in many cases, speed matters most. This article explains the steps to take depending on what happened, from simply receiving a suspicious call to having shared information or sent money. It also explains where to report scams in the United States and the United Kingdom, and how to protect yourself from follow-up scams.

First: There's No Shame in Being Targeted

People often feel embarrassed after falling for a scam, and that embarrassment stops many from telling anyone or reporting it. But scams are carefully designed by criminals who do this every day, using pressure, fear, and convincing stories. Being deceived isn't a reflection of intelligence or judgment.

Acting quickly and telling the right people is far more important than how it happened. The sooner you act, the better the chance of limiting the damage, and your report may help stop the same scammers from targeting someone else.

If You Received a Scam Call but Didn't Share Anything

If you recognized the call as a scam and didn't give any information or money, you're in a good position. A few simple steps can help:

• Hang up if you haven't already, and don't call back.
• Block the number on your phone, though scammers often change numbers.
• Report the call (see the reporting section below), which helps authorities track scam patterns.
• Warn family and friends if the scam seems to be targeting people you know, or if it involved someone pretending to be a relative.
• Be alert for follow-up calls, since scammers sometimes try again with a different story.

If You Shared Personal Information

If you gave out information such as your name, address, date of birth, or identification numbers, scammers may try to use it to commit identity theft or to make future scam calls more convincing.

Watch your accounts closely for unfamiliar activity, including bank statements, credit card statements, and any online accounts.

Be extra cautious about future calls, texts, and emails, especially those that seem to know your details.

In the United States, consider placing a fraud alert or a credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. A credit freeze is free and prevents new credit accounts from being opened in your name. If your Social Security number was shared, visit IdentityTheft.gov, run by the Federal Trade Commission, for a personalized recovery plan.

In the United Kingdom, consider checking your credit report with one of the main credit reference agencies, and look into protective registration services offered by fraud prevention organizations such as Cifas, which add an extra layer of checks when someone applies for credit in your name.

If You Shared Banking or Security Details

If you gave out your online banking login, card details, PIN, password, or a one-time security code, act immediately.

Contact your bank or card provider straight away, using the number on the back of your card or on their official website. Explain what happened so they can block your cards, secure your accounts, and watch for suspicious transactions. In the UK, you can call 159 to be connected securely to many major banks.

Change your passwords for any accounts that may be affected, starting with your email and banking accounts. Use strong, unique passwords for each account.

Turn on two-step verification where available, so a password alone isn't enough to access your accounts.

Check your account settings for any changes the scammer may have made, such as new contact details, new payees, or changes to where security codes are sent.

If You Gave Someone Remote Access to Your Device

If you installed software at the caller's request, or allowed them to connect to your computer or phone:

• Disconnect the device from the internet immediately.
• Uninstall any software the scammer asked you to install.
• Run a full security scan using reputable antivirus or security software, or have the device checked by a trusted professional.
• Change your passwords from a different, safe device, since the affected device may be compromised.
• Contact your bank if you accessed any financial accounts while the scammer was connected.

If You Sent Money

If you've paid a scammer, contact the company you used to make the payment as soon as possible. The faster you act, the better the chance of stopping or recovering the payment, though recovery isn't always possible.

Bank transfers. Contact your bank immediately and tell them it was a scam. They may be able to stop or recall the payment.

Credit or debit cards. Contact your card provider and ask about disputing the charge, sometimes called a chargeback.

Gift cards. Contact the company that issued the gift card right away, and keep the card and receipt. Some companies may be able to freeze the funds if they haven't yet been used.

Wire or money transfer services. Contact the transfer company immediately and ask them to stop or reverse the transfer.

Payment apps. Report the payment to the app company and your bank, and ask whether it can be reversed.

Cryptocurrency. Contact the platform or exchange you used and report the scam. Cryptocurrency payments are very difficult to reverse, but reporting can still help.

Cash. If you handed cash to someone who came to your home, contact the police straight away.

Reimbursement in the United Kingdom

In the UK, since October 2024, people who are tricked into sending money by bank transfer through the Faster Payments system are generally entitled to reimbursement from their payment provider, up to a set limit, under rules introduced by the Payment Systems Regulator. There are some exceptions, and claims need to be made within a set time, so it's important to report the scam to your bank as soon as possible.

Where to Report Scam Calls

Reporting helps authorities identify scam operations, warn the public, and take action against those responsible.

In the United States

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Report scams and fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Do Not Call violations: Report unwanted sales calls to registered numbers at donotcall.gov.
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC): File complaints about unwanted or spoofed calls through the FCC's consumer complaint center.
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: Report scams involving the internet, cryptocurrency, or large losses at ic3.gov.
• Identity theft: Report and get a recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov.
• Older adults: The National Elder Fraud Hotline, run by the US Department of Justice, offers support to people aged 60 and over at 1-833-372-8311.
• Local police and your state attorney general, especially if you lost money or were threatened.

In the United Kingdom

• Fraud reporting: In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, report fraud to the national fraud reporting service, Action Fraud, or its successor service. In Scotland, report to Police Scotland by calling 101.
• Nuisance marketing calls: Report to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
• Silent or abandoned calls: Report to Ofcom.
• Scam texts: Forward them free to 7726, which alerts your mobile network.
• Emergencies: If you're in immediate danger, or someone is at your door demanding money, call 999.

In the United States, many mobile carriers also accept scam texts forwarded to 7726.

Beware of Recovery Scams

People who have already been scammed are often targeted again. A common follow-up is the recovery scam, where someone contacts you claiming they can get your lost money back, often posing as a lawyer, a government agency, a law enforcement officer, or a recovery company, but asks for a fee upfront.

Genuine authorities don't charge fees to recover money lost to scams. Treat any unexpected offer to recover your money with great caution, and check directly with the organization they claim to represent using official contact details.

Look After Yourself

Being scammed can be upsetting, whether or not money was lost. People often feel anxious, angry, ashamed, or worried about it happening again. Talking about it with family, friends, or a support service can help.

In the United Kingdom, Victim Support offers free, confidential help to people affected by fraud. In the United States, AARP's Fraud Watch Network runs a free helpline at 877-908-3360, open to everyone regardless of age or membership.

If It Happens at Work

Businesses are also targeted by scam calls, for example by callers posing as senior managers, suppliers, or IT support. If an employee shares information or makes a payment because of a scam call, they should report it immediately to their manager and IT or security team. The business can then contact its bank, secure affected systems, and assess whether customer data was involved, which may need to be reported to regulators.

Creating a workplace where staff feel safe reporting mistakes quickly, without fear of blame, makes a big difference. The faster a business knows, the faster it can act.

Turning a Bad Experience Into Protection

Receiving a scam call, or falling for one, is stressful. But by acting quickly, securing your accounts, reporting what happened, and staying alert for follow-up attempts, you can limit the harm and help protect others. Every report adds to the information authorities use to track and stop scammers, and every person who shares their experience helps someone else recognize a scam before it's too late.

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