The First Few Hours

A woman sits across a desk from a calm bank employee in a small branch office, sliding a printed statement across; a wall clock shows the time.

Speed matters most in the hours immediately after a scam. Stop all contact with the person or platform. Do not send any more money, even if you are told it is the only way to recover what you have already lost.^[1] That is a further trap, not a solution.

Contact your financial institution right away, whether that is a bank, credit union, or crypto exchange. Tell them what happened and ask them to stop or reverse the transaction if they can. Wire transfers can sometimes be frozen within 24 to 48 hours if reported quickly enough.^[2] Credit card payments can often be disputed. Be gentle with yourself. The next steps can wait a little while.