Here's exactly what to do right now.
We'll walk you through every step — reporting, protecting yourself, and recovering. You are not alone in this.
Start Here → First 24 HoursThis page exists because someone in our family was targeted — drained of her savings by scammers who exploited her grief. We built this so the next family has somewhere to go.
First 24 hours — do these now
Time matters. Follow these steps in order. If you are doing this for a family member, walk through it together.
-
Call your bank immediately
This is the most time-sensitive step. Every hour matters for reversing transactions.
When someone answers, say these words:
"My name is [your name]. I need to report that I've been the victim of a scam. Please freeze my account immediately and flag all recent transactions I did not authorize."
Then ask:
- What is my fraud case number?
- Can you reverse any recent transactions to [the scammer]?
- How do I protect my other accounts and cards?
- Do I need to come into a branch?
Write down: The representative's name, employee ID, case number, and the exact time you called. You will need this for disputes.
-
Report to the FBI — IC3
The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center is the primary federal database for fraud. Your report helps investigators identify patterns and recover funds.
What you will need before you start:
- Date and time the fraud occurred
- How you were first contacted (phone, email, text, social media)
- The scammer's phone number, email, or website
- What the scammer claimed to be (IRS agent, tech support, etc.)
- Exactly how you paid (wire transfer, gift cards, crypto, bank account)
- Total amount lost
- Any financial account numbers used
Key fields on the IC3 form:
- Subject Information
- Enter every piece of contact info the scammer gave you — phone, email, name, website, social media handle. Even if it seems fake, enter it.
- Financial Transaction Information
- List each payment separately. For gift cards, include the retailer, card type, and amount. For wire transfers, include the receiving bank and account number if you have it.
- Description
- Write a clear chronological account. Start with "On [date], I received a [call/email/text]..." and describe what happened step by step.
-
Report to the FTC
The FTC shares reports with over 3,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide. Takes 5 minutes. Your report directly funds consumer protection efforts.
On the FTC form:
- What type of scam was it?
- Choose the closest match: Imposter scam, Online shopping, Investment, Business/Job, Other. For phone scams, choose "Imposter scam."
- How were you contacted?
- Select all that apply. Be accurate — this data drives law enforcement priorities.
- How did you pay?
- If you paid by gift card, select "Gift card or reload card." You'll be asked which retailers — list each one.
- Your contact info
- Providing your name and contact info is optional but allows investigators to follow up with you.
-
Report to the CFPB (if a bank was involved)
File this if the scam involved a bank, wire transfer, credit card, or any financial product. The CFPB can compel your bank to respond within 15 days.
Select "Bank account or service" or "Credit card" depending on how you paid. Describe that you were defrauded and your bank has not reversed the charge. The CFPB will forward the complaint directly to your bank and require a response.
-
Report to your state Attorney General
State AGs can investigate and prosecute scammers operating locally. Many run consumer protection programs specifically for elder fraud.
-
Create your incident record
A written record protects you. You'll need it for bank disputes, insurance claims, and follow-up with law enforcement.
Your data never leaves your browser. We generate a PDF you keep — nothing is sent to any server.
Your Private Incident Record
Everything you enter below stays in your browser. The PDF is generated locally — your information is never transmitted.
Active Scam Database
Scams targeting older adults — documented, categorized, and kept current. Each entry includes red flags so you can recognize it before it's too late.
Our database is being seeded with verified scam records. Check back soon — or report a scam you've encountered to help us build it.
Red flags library
How to recognize a scam in progress — including what to watch for in a parent or loved one who may not see the warning signs themselves.
Universal red flags — any scam, any type
- They demand payment by gift card. No legitimate organization — the IRS, Social Security, Medicare, a utility company, a court — ever asks for gift card payment. Ever.
- They create extreme urgency. "You'll be arrested today." "You must act in the next hour." "Don't hang up." Urgency is a tool to prevent you from thinking clearly.
- They ask you to keep it secret from family. This is almost always part of the script. They know your family will stop you.
- They ask for remote access to your computer. Legitimate tech support does not cold-call you. If you didn't initiate the contact, hang up.
- They guarantee investment returns. There are no guaranteed returns. Any promise of guaranteed profit is fraud.
- The prize requires you to pay something first. You cannot win something you didn't enter. Any "prize" that requires a fee or taxes upfront is a scam.
If your parent or loved one says any of these — act now
- "I can't tell you why, but I need to send money right away."
- "They said I'll be arrested if I don't pay today."
- "A person from Microsoft called and said my computer has a virus."
- "I met someone online and they need money to come visit me."
- "My grandson called from jail — he needs bail money and doesn't want me to tell anyone."
- "I won a sweepstakes, but I need to pay taxes first to receive the prize."
- "They said my Social Security number was used in a crime."
- "They said I owe back taxes to the IRS and they're sending police."
- "Medicare called and needs to update my information or they'll cancel my coverage."
- "I've been investing with a new person online — my account is growing fast." (romance + investment hybrid)
Signs money has already been sent
- Unexplained gift card purchases at drugstores, grocery stores, or electronics stores
- Unusual wire transfers from their bank account
- Withdrawal of large amounts of cash
- New cryptocurrency accounts or purchases
- Unfamiliar names or companies on bank statements
- Defensive or secretive behavior about finances — especially combined with a new "friend" who advised the action
Protect yourself and your family going forward
Once a scam has occurred, your personal information may be circulating. Identity monitoring watches for your information appearing in new accounts, data breaches, and the dark web — and alerts you immediately.
Citizen Seniors may earn a commission if you purchase through these links at no extra cost to you. We only recommend services we believe genuinely protect seniors and their families. Check each provider's site for current pricing and plan details.
Encountered a scam? Tell us about it.
Your experience could protect another family. All submissions are reviewed before publishing. We'll email you a link so you can check the status and update your report anytime — no account required.
You are not alone — and you should not feel ashamed.
These operations are run by professional criminal organizations that study psychology and exploit trust. The shame belongs entirely to the people who designed them. Reporting — even if you lost nothing — helps protect someone else's family.
If the emotional impact has been significant, the AARP Fraud Victim Support Helpline offers free, confidential counseling: 1-877-908-3360.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do immediately after being scammed?
Call your bank first to freeze your account and dispute transactions. Then file with the FBI IC3 (ic3.gov), FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov), and your state Attorney General. Document everything while it is fresh — dates, phone numbers, what was said, and how you paid.
How much money do seniors lose to scams each year?
The FBI's IC3 recorded $4.885 billion in losses from 147,127 complaints filed by older adults in 2024 — a 46% increase in complaints from 2023. The average loss per older adult victim was $83,000, compared to $19,000 for all ages combined. Only 5% of cases involved losses over $100,000 — but that 5% accounted for 68% of all dollars lost.
Will I get my money back after a scam?
Recovery depends on how you paid. Wire transfers and gift card payments are rarely recovered. Bank fraud reported within hours may be partially reversed — which is why calling your bank immediately matters. Credit card charges can sometimes be disputed. Reporting creates a record that occasionally leads to restitution in larger cases.
What are the most common scams targeting seniors?
Investment fraud ($1.8B in 2024), tech support scams ($1B), and romance scams ($389M) account for the largest losses. The grandparent scam, fake Medicare calls, and IRS impersonation are also extremely common for older adults specifically.
Should I feel ashamed if I was scammed?
No. These are professional criminal operations designed to defeat anyone's defenses — not just seniors. Reporting your experience helps investigators and warns other families. The shame belongs to the people who designed the scheme.