It is not your fault — now act quickly
Realising you have been scammed is shocking and often shaming, but these operations are professional and deliberately manipulative. Falling for one does not make you foolish. What matters now is acting quickly and calmly, because the first hours give you the best chance to limit the loss.
Two rules from the outset: stop sending any more money, no matter what you are told, and do not delete anything. The messages and records you have are your most valuable assets from here.
Immediate steps (the first 48 hours)
1) Contact your bank or card provider straight away, report the payments as fraud, and ask about chargebacks, recalls, or freezing further transfers. Time limits apply, so this comes first. 2) If you shared card numbers, passwords or gave remote access to your device, change passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and consider that the account may be compromised. 3) Screenshot and export everything — chats, emails, the trading dashboard, transaction records — before access is cut off.
If you granted remote-access software to anyone, remove it and run a security check; scammers sometimes use it to reach your banking. Treat any account they touched as at risk.
Report it properly
File with the relevant financial regulator (FCA, AMF, CySEC, ASIC, or your national authority), report to your country's fraud/cybercrime service, and, if crypto was involved, notify the exchange you used. Our guide on reporting a scam broker sets out the full order and what each body needs.
Keep every reference number. A methodical set of reports is not just about recovery — it also builds the case that can stop the operation and protect others.
Protect yourself from the second wave
Once you are a known victim, expect 'recovery' approaches: people who claim they can retrieve your money for a fee, sometimes posing as lawyers, officials, or even the regulator. This is a well-documented follow-up scam, and paying feeds it. No legitimate body charges an up-front fee to return stolen funds.
Take care of yourself, too. A financial loss like this hits hard emotionally. Talk to someone you trust, and if it is affecting your wellbeing, reach out for support. Our guide on recovering from a big loss covers the practical and mental side of getting back on your feet.