- Stop all communication with the scammer.
- Do not send any more money or personal information.
- Report the scam to the relevant authority, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the U.S. or Action Fraud in the UK.
- Change all passwords for your affected accounts.
- Contact your bank or financial institution if you have sent money.
- Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit report.
- Document all relevant information, including emails and screenshots.
- Keep a record of your communications with law enforcement.
To report a scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the U.S., you can use the following resources:
- FTC Complaint Assistant: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
- FTC’s Consumer Response Center: https://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/submit-consumer-complaint-ftc
- FTC’s Identity Theft Hotline: 877-438-4338.