After the click, get R.E.S.E.T.™
What to do the moment you realize it was a scam
Take a breath. In an emergency, call 911.
Your First 15 Minutes
Take a breath. Do these five things, in this order.
- 1
Stop.
Hang up, close the page or app, and do not send anything more. Do not call back any number the caller gave you.
- 2
Call your bank or card company.
Use the number on the back of your card or on your statement. Ask them to protect your account, and write down the case number.
- 3
Change any password you shared.
If you gave out a password or code, change it now, from a device you trust.
- 4
Write it down.
Use the My Call Log and My Recovery Notes pages at the back of the guide. Details fade quickly; paper does not.
- 5
Call someone you trust.
You do not have to do this alone. A family member, friend, or one of the free helplines can sit with you while you make the calls.
IT IS ALWAYS OKAY TO HANG UP.
How R.E.S.E.T.™ Works
One framework. Five steps. Any scam.
- R
Recognize the Red Flag
Notice the sign that something is wrong — a request for money, passwords, personal information, or remote access, made under pressure or urgency.
- E
Exit the Interaction
Stop the interaction immediately. Hang up, close the page or app, and do not send anything more, no matter what you are told will happen if you do not.
- S
Secure Your Accounts
Contact the real bank, card issuer, or account provider yourself, using a number or website you already know and trust — never one the scammer gave you.
- E
Ensure the Evidence
Save the details while they are fresh: dates, times, amounts, screenshots, and any names or case numbers you were given.
- T
Tell the Right People
Report what happened to the people who can help: your bank, the legitimate company involved, and the free resources in this guide.
Helping someone you love? Sit with them, stay calm, and work through one path together. Scams happen to careful, intelligent people of every age. Shame keeps people quiet; support gets them moving.
Recovery Paths at a Glance
Find the situation closest to yours, then tap it.
Free Help: Keep This Page
Report a scam or fraud
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
ReportFraud.ftc.gov
1-877-382-4357Report identity theft and get a recovery plan
IdentityTheft.gov (FTC)
IdentityTheft.gov
1-877-438-4338Report internet crime
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) — IC3 never calls, emails, or charges a fee.
www.ic3.gov
Fraud against someone age 60 or older
National Elder Fraud Hotline · Mon.–Fri., 10 a.m.–6 p.m. ET
ovc.ojp.gov/program/stop-elder-fraud
1-833-372-8311Free scam help and support
AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline · Mon.–Fri., 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET
aarp.org/fraud
1-877-908-3360Complaint about a bank, card, or lender
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau · Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–6 p.m. ET
consumerfinance.gov/complaint
1-855-411-2372Credit freeze or fraud alert
Equifax
equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze
1-888-298-0045Credit freeze or fraud alert
Experian
experian.com/help/credit-freeze
1-888-397-3742Credit freeze or fraud alert
TransUnion · Automated line. To talk to a person: 1-800-916-8800.
transunion.com/credit-freeze
1-888-909-8872Scam text message
Your wireless carrier — forward the text to 7726 (SPAM)
Credit freezes are free. A freeze stops new credit accounts from being opened in your name and lasts until you lift it. Contact all three bureaus; each one is separate. For a fraud alert, contact any one bureau; it must tell the other two.
Numbers were checked against official sources on November 11, 2026. If a number does not work, look it up on the official website. Listing these organizations does not imply any affiliation with, or endorsement by, them.
You are not alone.
Watch for recovery scammers: never pay an upfront fee to anyone who promises to get your money back.
Recovering from a scam takes time, and it is normal to feel upset, embarrassed, or angry. None of that changes one fact: you are already making progress. Take it one call at a time.
Educational guide only. Recovery is not guaranteed. In an emergency, call 911.