How to Help Get Your Money Back from a Scam

Americans lose billions of dollars to scams each year. According to the FTC, consumers reported losing over $10 billion to fraud in recent years. If you've been scammed, here's what you can do.

Act Quickly

Time is critical when trying to recover funds from a scam. Contact your bank or credit card company immediately to dispute the charges. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you generally have 60 days to dispute unauthorized credit card charges, and federal regulations limit your liability to $50 for debit card fraud if reported within two business days.

Report the Scam

File reports with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov, your state attorney general's office, and local law enforcement. If the scam involved wire transfers, contact the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

Common Scam Types

Be aware of common scams including phishing emails, romance scams, tech support fraud, investment scams, and government impersonation scams. The more you know about these tactics, the better you can protect yourself.

Legal Assistance

An attorney can help you explore legal avenues for recovery, including civil lawsuits against scammers and working with law enforcement. Contact Maria Runyon to learn about Personal Legal Service Plans that provide access to legal counsel.