!
Now
The first two hours — actions in order
Do not feel shame — act. Scams are designed by professionals to deceive. Embarrassment delays action, and delay costs money. The people at your bank's fraud line deal with this every day — they will not judge you.
- 1Do nowCall your bank's fraud line — use the number on your cardTell them: "I believe I have been the victim of a scam. I need you to flag my account, freeze any pending transfers, and investigate recent transactions." Ask for a case or reference number.
- 2Do nowChange your email password immediatelyEmail is the master key to most other accounts — password resets, bank notifications, and identity verification all route through it. Change it before anything else. Use a password you haven't used before.
- 3Do nowEnable two-factor authentication on email and bankingThis prevents access even if a scammer has your password. Use an authenticator app rather than SMS where possible.
- 4TodayChange passwords on all key accountsBanking, superannuation (AU), government services (myGov AU, HMRC UK), PayPal, any accounts linked to your email. Use a password manager to generate unique passwords.
- 5TodayCheck your credit file for unauthorised applicationsAU: Equifax (formerly Veda), Experian, Illion — one free report per year each. UK: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion. US: annualcreditreport.com. Look for credit applications you did not make.
- 6TodayDocument everything for your fraud reportWrite down: type of scam, how contact was made, what you gave (money, information, access), when it happened, any names or numbers used. You will need this for your bank dispute and fraud report.
B
Bank
What to tell your bank — and what to ask for
What to say when you call
"I need to report a fraud. I believe I have been scammed and [money was transferred / my account details were given / I authorised a transaction under false pretences]. I need you to: flag my account for fraud review, attempt to recall any transfers made in the last [timeframe], freeze any pending transactions, and issue a new card / change my account details. Can I get a reference number for this report?"
| Ask your bank for | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Transaction recall / reversal attempt | Banks can sometimes recall funds if the receiving bank cooperates — speed is critical. Not always possible, but worth requesting immediately. |
| Fraud case reference number | You need this for the ScamWatch / Action Fraud / FTC report and for any subsequent dispute. |
| New card and new account number | If your card or account details were given to a scammer, request a replacement. Old details should be deactivated. |
| Account monitoring alert | Ask for any unusual activity to be flagged and for you to be contacted. Some banks can set this up temporarily. |
| Written confirmation of the fraud report | Keeps a paper trail. Ask for confirmation by email or letter. |
If your bank refuses to refund: In AU, lodge a complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA — afca.org.au). In UK, escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service (financial-ombudsman.org.uk). In US, contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov). These are free services and banks are required to participate.
ID
Identity
If personal or government ID was given
| What was given | Action required | Who to contact |
|---|---|---|
| Tax File Number (AU) | Contact ATO immediately. Request a TFN compromise alert placed on your record. | ATO: 13 28 61 |
| Medicare number (AU) | Contact Services Australia. Request a new Medicare card with a new number. | Services Australia: 132 011 |
| myGov login details | Change myGov password immediately. Check all linked services for unauthorised activity. | myGov: my.gov.au |
| Driver licence number | Contact your state's driver licence authority. In some states a new number can be issued. | Varies by state — search "[state] replace driver licence scam" |
| Passport details | Contact DFAT (AU) or your national passport authority. Flag for possible fraudulent use. | AU: passports.gov.au · 131 232 |
| National Insurance number (UK) | Report to HMRC. Monitor your credit file for fraudulent credit applications. | HMRC: 0300 200 3500 |
| Social Security number (US) | Report to the SSA and FTC. Place a fraud alert or credit freeze with all three credit bureaus. | SSA: ssa.gov · FTC: identitytheft.gov |
IDCARE (AU/NZ): Australia's national identity and cyber support service — idcare.org · 1800 595 160. Free, specialist support for identity theft victims. They can help you develop a tailored response plan and guide you through the government agency notification process.
R
Report
Reporting — where to go by country and scam type
| Country | Authority | Contact | What they handle |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU | ScamWatch (ACCC) | scamwatch.gov.au | All scam types — data feeds law enforcement |
| AU | ReportCyber (AFP) | cyber.gov.au/report | Cybercrime, identity theft, financial fraud |
| AU | IDCARE | idcare.org · 1800 595 160 | Identity theft specialist support |
| AU | AFCA | afca.org.au | Bank refusal disputes |
| UK | Action Fraud | actionfraud.police.uk · 0300 123 2040 | All fraud and cybercrime |
| UK | Financial Ombudsman | financial-ombudsman.org.uk | Bank refusal disputes |
| US | FTC | reportfraud.ftc.gov | All fraud types — especially consumer fraud |
| US | IC3 (FBI) | ic3.gov | Internet crime, significant financial fraud |
| US | identitytheft.gov (FTC) | identitytheft.gov | Identity theft — step-by-step recovery plan |
Follow-on scam warning: Scam victims are frequently targeted again — either by the original scammers calling back as a "recovery service", or by other scammers who buy victim lists. If anyone contacts you claiming they can recover your lost money for a fee, that is a second scam. Legitimate fraud authorities do not charge fees for recovery assistance.