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Stop sending money, end contact with the people behind the offer, and contact the bank, card issuer, wire service, payment app, or crypto platform you used—through independently verified contact details. Ask whether the transaction can be stopped, recalled, disputed, or the receiving account frozen. Save evidence, report the fraud to the appropriate agencies, and do not pay anyone who promises to recover your money for an upfront fee. A payment reversal is not guaranteed, but acting quickly gives your provider the chance to explain what options apply.
What to do first
- Stop the payments and the conversation. Do not send another installment, pay a supposed tax or account-unlock fee, or follow instructions to “verify” your investment account. Stop communicating with the suspected scammers. The SEC and FBI both advise victims not to send more money. SEC guidance on relationship investment scams and the FBI/IC3 crypto investment scam infographic explain these steps.
- Contact the payment provider immediately. Use the number on your bank card or statement, the provider’s official website or app, or another contact route you verify independently—not a number or link the suspected scammer gave you. Explain that you were induced to make a fraudulent investment payment. Ask whether it can be stopped, recalled, disputed, or whether the receiving account can be frozen. The available option depends on the payment and provider; no general reversal entitlement is established for every type of transaction.
- Preserve what you have. Save transaction receipts, dates and amounts, recipient names and account details, crypto wallet addresses and transaction IDs, website and app names, phone numbers, email addresses, usernames, messages, screenshots, and any voice or video messages. Keep original files where possible and do not delete conversations while gathering information.
- Report the fraud. File with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for cyber-enabled or cryptocurrency investment fraud. Report suspected securities or investment fraud to the SEC and consumer fraud to the FTC. If your identity information was misused, use IdentityTheft.gov for recovery steps. If the investment involved commodities or precious metals, the CFTC may also be relevant. Reporting creates a record and may help authorities identify conduct; it does not guarantee reimbursement.
- Protect accounts and personal information. Tell your financial institutions if you shared login credentials, account information, identity documents, or tax forms. Change exposed passwords and follow your institution’s instructions for securing affected accounts. Do not share more financial or identity information with anyone who contacts you claiming to investigate or help.
What to ask your payment provider
The provider that handled the payment is the first place to ask about transaction-specific options. Give it the payment date, amount, recipient details, and any reference or transaction number. Ask what action is possible for that payment method and what information it needs from you. Contact it promptly; the sources do not establish one universal deadline or guarantee for bank transfers, cards, wires, payment apps, or cryptocurrency.
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| How you paid | Who to contact first | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer or wire | The sending bank or wire service | Whether the transfer can be stopped, recalled, disputed, or reported to the receiving institution. |
| Credit or debit card | The card issuer | Whether a dispute or other process applies to the transaction. |
| Payment app | The app’s official support channel and, if linked, your bank or card issuer | Whether the payment can be challenged or the recipient account flagged. |
| Cryptocurrency | The exchange or platform you used, if any | Whether it can flag a destination or take action under its own process. An exchange may be able to freeze an account under its procedures or in response to legal process, but a private recovery firm cannot issue a seizure order. |
| Cash or a courier pickup | Your bank or the relevant law-enforcement reporting channel, if cash has already been handed over | How to document and report the loss. Do not meet a courier or hand over more cash or valuables. |
Cryptocurrency can be difficult to recover, and funds may move quickly or overseas, according to the SEC’s crypto-scam guidance. That is why it is important to contact any platform involved without delay, while avoiding promises that a transfer can be reversed.
How to report it and what information to include
Choose reporting routes that match what happened. Filing a report does not replace contacting the payment provider, and reports to different agencies serve different purposes.
#1 Best Overall
- IC3: Report cyber-enabled fraud and cryptocurrency investment scams at IC3.gov. The FBI’s June 15, 2026 alert asks victims to include, when possible, the contacting person or company, communication methods, bank accounts and wallets, recipients, and screenshots of apps or messages.
- SEC: Report suspected securities or investment fraud through the SEC’s investor resources. Its relationship investment scam guidance advises victims to stop communicating and not give the suspected scammers more money.
- FTC: Report consumer fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For identity misuse, the FTC points victims to IdentityTheft.gov.
- CFTC: Consider a report to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission if the alleged investment involved commodities or precious metals.
For an IC3 complaint, assemble a clear timeline and include how the contact began; names and usernames; phone numbers, emails, websites, and apps; payment dates and amounts; recipient institutions and account numbers; crypto addresses and transaction information; and saved messages or screenshots. Keep copies of what you submit.
Do not pay a recovery service or supposed official
People who have lost money may be targeted again by callers claiming to be recovery experts, tracing firms, lawyers, or regulators. Treat unsolicited offers and requests for advance payment as a serious warning sign. Do not provide identity documents, banking details, passwords, or a new payment to someone who claims to have already located your funds.
The FBI says private-sector recovery companies cannot issue seizure orders for cryptocurrency, and warns that scammers may take an initial fee and then disappear or demand more. The SEC also warns that fraudsters may impersonate regulators or law firms and demand an upfront payment to release funds. As the FBI puts it, “Law enforcement does not charge victims a fee for investigating crimes.” See the FBI’s alerts on fraudulent crypto recovery companies and fictitious law firms targeting crypto scam victims.
Why a deepfake or trading dashboard is not proof
Scammers may use AI to clone, alter, or fake voices, images, and videos to deceive investors, the SEC says. The FBI and ABA Foundation also identify deepfake video, voice, and images as tools criminals use to hide who they are. A familiar face, convincing voice, live-looking video, or dashboard showing profits does not establish that the person is genuine or that the investment exists.
Focus on independent verification rather than trying to identify visual glitches. Do not use the scammer’s links or phone numbers to verify a person, company, or agency. End direct contact and reach banks and official agencies using contact details you locate independently.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How widespread are these losses?
The FBI’s 2023 Internet Crime Report recorded $3.96 billion in reported investment fraud with a reference to cryptocurrency, up from $2.57 billion in 2022—a 53% increase. Those figures describe that specific category of reports, not all actual losses and not deepfake investment scams alone. In a separate alert, the FBI said victims targeted by fictitious law firms offering crypto recovery reported losing more than $9.9 million between February 2023 and February 2024. Neither figure is a current 2026 total for deepfake investment scam victims. FBI 2023 Internet Crime Report; FBI alert on fictitious recovery law firms.
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