What to do afterwards.
WHAT TO DO FIRST
Stop sending money, immediately, whatever is demanded.
WHY
Further payment never recovers anything.
WHAT TO SECURE
Any wallets or accounts still under your control Email and phone accounts Any device that may be compromised
WHAT TO RECORD
Every transaction, with identifiers Every communication Every website and account involved Dates and amounts
WHY
Investigation, if it occurs, depends entirely on that record.
WHAT TO REPORT TO
Law enforcement in your jurisdiction The platform, if one was involved Financial regulators, where applicable The exchange, if funds reached one
WHY EXCHANGES MATTER
Funds moving to a regulated exchange can sometimes be frozen, if reported quickly.
WHAT SPEED AFFECTS
That possibility, which diminishes rapidly.
WHAT TO EXPECT
That recovery is unlikely.
WHAT TO REFUSE ABSOLUTELY
Anyone offering to recover the funds for a fee.
WHAT THOSE ARE
A second fraud, targeting people already harmed, frequently by the same operators.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL EFFECT
Recognise that these operations are professional and designed to succeed.
WHAT NOT TO DO
Conceal it out of embarrassment, which prevents reporting and warning others.
WHAT TO CONSIDER
Telling others, so they are not targeted similarly.
