Emergency guidance
I just sent money to a scammer
Take a breath. You are not to blame, and there are concrete things you can do right now. Work through these steps in order — the first hours matter most.
Emergency checklist
0 of 6 steps completed
1. Stop all further payments immediately
Do not send any more money — not for 'taxes', 'fees', 'verification' or 'unlocking' a withdrawal. Requests for extra payments are part of the scam.
2. Contact your bank or payment provider now
Ask for the fraud team, quote the exact time and amount of the transfer, and request a recall or chargeback. Speed matters most in the first hours.
3. If crypto was sent, secure your wallet
Revoke token approvals from a device you trust, move remaining funds to a new wallet, and copy the transaction hash. Never share your recovery phrase with anyone.
4. Preserve every piece of evidence
Screenshot chats, profiles, websites, receipts and transaction pages before they disappear. Do not delete the conversation and do not confront the scammer.
5. Report to your local authorities
File a report with your national police or cybercrime unit and keep the reference number. Your bank will often ask for it.
6. Create a ScamGuard Pro case
Record everything in one place, get matched with a support agent, and help warn other people about the same operation.
Staying safe after a scam
Stay safe
- Never share private keys or seed phrases with anyone, including ScamGuard Pro staff.
- Never provide passwords, PINs or one-time codes (OTPs).
- Be cautious when asked to pay additional fees or taxes to release a withdrawal.
- ScamGuard Pro does not guarantee recovery of lost funds.
Beware of "recovery experts"
Anyone who contacts you promising to recover your funds for an upfront fee is almost certainly running a second scam. Victims are routinely targeted twice.
ScamGuard Pro provides reporting, information, case organisation and support. ScamGuard Pro does not guarantee recovery of lost funds.