After a Scam: Steps to Protect Yourself and Alert Others
Were you recently scammed? This article tells you how to protect yourself against future scams and protect your community by reporting it.
Act quickly if you can. Some steps are time-sensitive:
- Check out our article on what to do right after you are scammed. These steps are most important in the first 72 hours, but they can still help even if more time has gone by.
- You have 60 days from the date of after the first bill with the error to dispute it with your credit card company. Visit this government website to learn how to do this.
- You might need to file a police report for some of the steps listed below.
- Step 1: Save evidence
- Step 2: Report to government agencies
- Step 3: Take steps to protect yourself in the future
- Step 4: Take care of yourself emotionally
Step 1: Save evidence
While everything is still fresh in your mind, do the following:
- Write a timeline. Note when the scammer first contacted you and when you sent any money.
- Save all messages. Take screenshots of any conversations with the scammer and keep any information they sent you.
- Keep proof of any payments. Take screenshots or print anything that shows you made a payment. For example, if you paid through Venmo with a credit card, save the payment details on Venmo and your credit card statement.
Keep track of every step you take to recover money. Make a spreadsheet with who you contacted, when you did it, and what you talked about. This shows you acted quickly, which can help if you need to dispute charges or file a claim later.
Step 2: Report to government agencies
You can report being scammed to several agencies, both nationwide and in Oregon.
- USA.gov has a website that helps you find out where to report a scam.
- At a minimum, you should report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and report to the Oregon Department of Justice.
When you file a report, make sure you include all the details. Here’s how to make a strong report:
- Provide as much detail as possible. Include names, dates, and amounts of money.
- Present your timeline clearly. The timeline you made earlier will help you keep things organized.
- Ask someone who doesn’t know the details to read your report. Can they understand what happened by reading your complaint? Don’t expect the agency to follow up or ask questions.
Step 3: Take steps to protect yourself in the future
After being scammed, you might be targeted by other scammers.
Be careful with anyone who claims they can help you get your money back. This could be another scam. You can read about common scam tactics in this related Oregon Law Help article.
Five important steps to take to protect your credit and identity
- Get a copy of your credit report. A credit report is a list of all your debts. Businesses use your credit report when deciding whether to give you a loan. You can find out how to get one for free at this website authorized by the government. Save it with your other evidence in case you need it later.
- Set up a fraud alert. This adds a warning to your credit report. It tells lenders to take extra steps to make sure it is you before approving new credit in your name. You can learn how to do this on this page from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- Consider a credit freeze. This stops anyone from using your credit in the future. You can temporarily lift the freeze if you need to. You can learn how to do this on this page from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- Change passwords for any accounts connected to the scam.
- Turn on multifactor authentication (an extra login step, like a text code) for any accounts that offer it. This is also called “MFA” or “2FA.”
If you notice anything unusual on your credit report, visit identitytheft.gov for more information.
You can find more information about digital safety in this comic by Oregon Consumer Justice.
Step 4: Take care of yourself emotionally
If you were recently scammed, you may feel scared, ashamed, or depressed. You are the victim of a crime, and these feelings are normal. You do not have to go through this alone.
Call or text 988 if you are in crisis and need immediate help. Support is available 24/7.
Talk to your friends and family. Even though it can feel embarrassing to talk about being scammed, being honest can help others learn from your experience. Even the most careful people can get tricked.
Join a support group:
- The Cybercrime Support Network offers support groups for victims of romance scams or crypto investment scams.
- AARP offers confidential discussion groups for victims of scams and their loved ones. There are no age restrictions for these groups.