What to do if you sent money from your bank
Take a breath. This happens to careful, smart people every day, and it is not your fault. Call your bank right now. Money sent this way can be hard to get back, but the faster you act, the better your chance.
Do these steps in order
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Do this now Call your bank right now
Use the number on the back of your debit card or on your statement, or open your bank's official app. Ask for the fraud team. Zelle payments go through your bank, so your bank handles those too.
What to say: “I was scammed. Please stop or reverse this payment, refund my money, and flag my account.”
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Do this now Ask your bank to recall any wire you sent
Ask your bank to recall the wire and contact the bank that got it. Then report it to the FBI at IC3.gov (link below) as fast as you can, with your bank details. The FBI can sometimes ask banks to freeze the money. A recall does not always work.
What to say: “Please recall the wire I sent to a scammer, and contact the bank that received it right away.”
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Do this now Used Western Union, MoneyGram, or Ria? Contact them now
Use the number on your receipt or the FTC page below. Don't search online for a support number. Scammers post fake ones. Tell them a scammer tricked you into sending the money. Ask them to stop or reverse it and refund you.
What to say: “A scammer tricked me into sending this money. Please stop or reverse the transfer and refund me.”
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Tell your bank if someone got into your account
If someone you know or live with may have set this up, removing it or signing them out can alert them. If you’re worried about your safety, talk to a domestic violence advocate before you change anything. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is free and open any time: call 800-799-7233 or chat at thehotline.org. If you can, use a phone or computer they can’t check.
Deadline: Report every transfer you didn't make within 60 days of the statement it first shows up on. Sooner is better.
Did you share a code or password, or let someone on your computer? Tell your bank. Payments the scammer made from your account may have more protection than ones you sent yourself. Change your online banking password from a different device. Ask for a claim number.
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Stop all contact with the scammer
Do not answer their calls, texts, or emails. Do not send more money, even if they say it will fix the problem or get your money back.
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Write down what happened
Write the date, the amount, and how you sent it. Add any names, phone numbers, or account details the scammer gave you. Keep their messages. You will need this for your reports.
Follow up later
- Tomorrow: call back and ask for your case or claim number. Write it down.
- In 30 days: look at your bank and card statements for anything you don’t know.
Keep your place
To keep your place, bookmark this page or copy your private link.
Keep the link private. It shows the steps you’ve ticked. Never send it to anyone who calls, texts, or emails you. Latchstring will never ask for it. Your browser’s history also keeps this address, and may copy it to your Google or Apple account if you sync. On a shared phone or computer, use a private window, or clear your history afterward.
Did any of these happen too?
- I paid with an app like Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal
- I paid with a credit or debit card
- I paid with gift cards
- I sent crypto or used a Bitcoin ATM
- I gave cash, gold, or my cards to someone
- I deposited a check and sent money back
- I shared a code or password
- My phone suddenly has no service
- My email or social media account was hacked
- I let someone into my computer or phone
- Someone is using my name, or I gave out my Social Security number
Then, report it and get free help
- Report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (Federal Trade Commission).
- Also report it to the FBI at IC3.gov, even if it started with a phone call or a visit.
- Get a free recovery plan from a real person: call or text 888-400-5530 (Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit).
- Age 60 or older? Call the Justice Department’s National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311 for free help reporting it. Mon–Fri, 10 am–6 pm Eastern.
- Feeling overwhelmed? Call or text 988, any time.
Watch for a second scam. Anyone who contacts you offering to get your money back for a fee, a code, your bank details, or access to your phone or computer is a scammer, even if they say they’re the FBI, the FTC, a lawyer, or us. Don’t search online for a company’s phone number either. Scammers post fake ones.
This guide was last checked in October 2026. Sources: