ManuAIVI

L125 · Staying safe · 3 min

The first hour after sending money to a scammer

If you sent money to a scammer, calling your bank within minutes gives the best chance of stopping it, so call first and deal with the feelings later.

01 · The idea

Call your bank's official hotline straight away, using the number on your card or in the app. Say you sent money to a scammer, give the time, amount and receiving account, and ask them to check and hold the transfer if possible.

If you shared a password or a one-time code, or installed an app, tell the bank so they can lock your account and cards. Change your passwords from a safe device.

Report to the police: call 113 or go to the nearest station. Take screenshots of the chat, call logs, the transfer receipt and the scammer's account details, and keep them all.

Then watch out for a second scam. People who claim they can "recover your money" for a fee are almost always scammers too. Getting money back is not guaranteed, so tell your family and lean on them.

02 · Do it now

03 · Quick check

You just realised a transfer went to a scammer. What should you do first?

Words in this lesson

See also