Is money leaving your account right now, or was it just sent?

Call your bank using the number on the back of your card and ask them to stop or recall the payment. Do not use any number a caller gave you. If you are in danger, call your local emergency number.

Sardine Tools

Scam Resource Center

You’re in the right place,
we’re here to help.

If someone is rushing you to send money, move it to a "safe account," buy gift cards, or share a code, pause here first. Then click below to choose your next best step.

Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere. Everything here runs entirely on your own device.

Is this a scam?

Start here: Let’s figure out
what’s going on

This uses the U.S. Federal Reserve's ScamClassifier℠ model, the same framework banks use to identify scams. Answer honestly. There are no wrong answers, and we’re not recording your responses.

Scam check

Before we start

This takes about two minutes and stays completely private. There are no wrong answers.

Stay on high alert

Scammers sell victim lists. Weeks later you may hear from a fake "recovery service," "law firm," or "government fund" that promises to get your money back for a fee. Real agencies never charge to recover funds. Treat any such offer as a new scam.

What to do after

Do these things now, in order

Act quickly, but you do not have to do it all at once. Every step you take helps. If you feel unsafe, call your local emergency number.

First hour

Stop the bleeding

  1. 1. Call your bank or the payment app using the number on your card or their official app, not a number the scammer gave you. Ask to stop, reverse, or recall the payment and to freeze the account.
  2. 2. Cut off contact. Stop replying and hang up. Do not send "one more" payment to "release" your money. That is part of the scam.
  3. 3. Do not pay anyone who promises to recover your money. Recovery scams target people who were just scammed.

Freeze your credit for free

A freeze stops anyone from opening new accounts in your name. Place one at all three U.S. bureaus and unfreeze anytime you need credit. In the UK, ask the credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) about Cifas protective registration.

Same day

Lock down your accounts

  1. 1. Change passwords on your bank, email, and any account you shared details for, and turn on two-factor authentication.
  2. 2. If you gave remote access to your device, disconnect from the internet, uninstall any remote-access apps, run a security scan, or ask a trusted technician to check it.
  3. 3. If you shared your SSN or ID, visit IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan and freeze your credit (see below).

Save the evidence

Reports and disputes go faster with details.
Before you delete anything, save:

  • Names, phone numbers, emails, and websites used
  • Amounts, dates, and how you paid (screenshots help)
  • Messages, receipts, and transfer confirmations

Watch for the "second wave"

Scammers sell victim lists. Weeks later you may hear from a fake "recovery service," "law firm," or "government fund" that promises to get your money back for a fee. Real agencies never charge to recover funds. Treat any such offer as a new scam.

Report the scamSee fund recovery tips

Report the scam

Where to file a complaint

You can and should report to more than one place. It’s free, and you do not need to have lost money to file. Filter by your region and the type of scam.

Fund recovery tips

Get your money back:
What works, by how you paid

Acting fast gives you the best chance. Find how you paid below, then switch the region for local protections. Ask your bank about these by name.

  • Credit or debit card

    Often recoverable
    • Call your card issuer's fraud line and ask to dispute the charge and request a chargeback.
    • Act fast, as card disputes usually have a time limit from the statement date.
    • Ask for a new card number if yours was exposed.

    Regional note

    U.S.Credit cards are protected under the Fair Credit Billing Act, and debit cards under Regulation E. Report debit fraud within 2 days to cap your liability at $50.

    UK & EURequest a chargeback through your card scheme. In the UK, Section 75 can make the credit card provider jointly liable for purchases over £100.

  • Bank transfer (ACH or local)

    Sometimes recoverable
    • Call your bank immediately and ask them to attempt a recall or reversal.
    • Ask to dispute it as unauthorized if you did not knowingly authorize it.
    • Report to the receiving bank too, so they can freeze the account.

    Regional note

    U.S.Ask about a Regulation E dispute for unauthorized electronic transfers. Authorized transfers you were tricked into are harder, but still ask.

    UK & EUUK: from October 2024, most authorized push payment (APP) scam victims must be reimbursed by their bank. Raise an APP fraud claim. EU: ask about SEPA recall and your rights under PSD2.

  • P2P app (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, PayPal)

    Sometimes recoverable
    • Report the transaction as a scam inside the app right away.
    • Also call your linked bank and ask them to dispute or recall it.
    • Keep screenshots of the transfer and the conversation.

    Regional note

    U.S.Unauthorized transfers are covered by Regulation E. Networks have expanded some scam reimbursement, so escalate and cite it.

    UK & EUIf the payment used your bank rails, raise it as APP fraud with your bank. For PayPal purchases, open a Buyer Protection dispute.

  • Wire transfer

    Act within hours
    • Call the sending bank immediately and request a wire recall or SWIFT recall.
    • Report to the FBI IC3 the same day. Its Recovery Asset Team can help freeze domestic wires.
    • Contact the receiving bank's fraud team as well.

    Regional note

    U.S.IC3's Recovery Asset Team works with banks on the Financial Fraud Kill Chain for qualifying domestic wires. Speed is everything.

    UK & EUAsk your bank to initiate an international recall immediately and to contact the beneficiary bank. Report to Action Fraud or your national police.

  • Gift cards

    Hard, act fast
    • Call the gift card brand's fraud line immediately (find the number on the back of the card, or on their website).
    • Ask if the balance can be frozen or refunded. Keep the card and receipt.
    • Report to the FTC and the retailer where it was bought.

    Regional note

    U.S.The FTC keeps an updated list of gift card issuer contacts for reporting scams.

    UK & EUContact the card issuer's customer service and report to Action Fraud or your national consumer authority.

  • Cryptocurrency

    Rarely recoverable
    • Report to the exchange you used and ask them to flag the receiving wallet.
    • File with IC3 and report the wallet on Chainabuse.
    • Save all transaction hashes, wallet addresses, and messages.

    Regional note

    U.S.Recovery is rare, but reports help investigators trace and sometimes seize funds. Never pay a “crypto recovery” service.

    UK & EUReport to Action Fraud or your national police and to the exchange. Chainabuse works globally.

  • Cash or courier

    Rarely recoverable
    • Report to local police and get a report number.
    • Report to the FTC (U.S.) or your national police and consumer authority.
    • If a courier is scheduled to collect more, do not hand anything over and tell the police.

    Regional note

    U.S.File a police report and report to the FTC. Keep any packaging or instructions as evidence.

    UK & EUReport to your national police and Action Fraud (UK). Keep all evidence.

Speed matters more than anything

The sooner you flag it, the more likely funds can be frozen or recalled before they are cashed out. Report to your bank first, then to the agencies in "Report the scam." Never pay a fee to a service that guarantees recovery.

Support resources

You are not alone,
and it wasn’t your fault

Being scammed can happen to anyone. Scams are built by professionals to bypass exactly the caution you would normally use. The below services are free and confidential, whether or not you lost money.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 24/7 in the U.S. if the stress feels overwhelming. In the UK and Europe, call your local emergency number or Samaritans (116 123).

Emotional and peer support

Victim advocacy and hotlines

Older adults and elder fraud

Cyber, forensic, and community

United Kingdom and Europe

Protect yourself going forward

Spot the next scam
before it starts

Scams keep changing, but the tactics rarely do. If you learn the pressure points below, you can catch almost any scam early, and help the people you love do the same.

  • The universal red flags

    • Urgency. You are pushed to act now or stay on the line.
    • Secrecy. You are told not to tell family, your bank, or staff.
    • Unusual payment. Gift cards, crypto, wire, or a payment app that cannot be reversed.
    • Codes or access. Anyone asking for a one-time code, password, or remote access.
    • Out of the blue. Unsolicited contact, or a deal that feels too good to be true.

  • Habits that keep you safe

    • Hang up and call back on a number you look up yourself, not one you were given.
    • Never share a one-time code, and never move money to a "safe account."
    • Turn on two-factor authentication and use unique passwords or a password manager.
    • Freeze your credit while you are not using it. It’s free and reversible.
    • Talk to someone you trust before making any large or rushed payment.

  • New threats to know

    • AI voice clones. A "relative" or "boss" in distress may be a cloned voice built from a few seconds of audio.
    • Deepfake video and photos. Live video and "proof" images can be faked. They are not confirmation of identity.
    • QR code scams. A code on a flyer, parking meter, or email can send you to a fake payment page.
    • Fake recovery services. After a scam, a "recovery expert" who charges a fee is almost always a second scam.

Set a family safe word

Agree on a private word or question with close family now. If you ever get an urgent call claiming a loved one is in trouble, ask for the safe word. A real family member will know it. An AI voice clone will not. It is the simplest defense against emergency and "grandparent" scams.

Not sure about a message? Run the scam checkReport a scam you spotted

Scam prevention for businesses

Stop scams before
the money moves

Sardine helps banks, fintechs, and marketplaces detect scams and social-engineering fraud in real-time, across the customer journey.

Answers to what people ask most

FAQ Image

The caller ID showed my bank's real number. Is it not really them?

No. Scammers routinely "spoof" real phone numbers, sender names, and even websites so the contact looks genuine. A matching number proves nothing. Always hang up and call back on a number you look up yourself.

The Scam Resource Center is a free educational resource provided by Sardine for consumers. It is not a government agency and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by any bank or the Federal Reserve. The scam check is based on the ScamClassifier℠ model published via FedPaymentsImprovement.org and is used here for educational classification only. This site does not provide legal or financial advice, and results are not a guarantee. Always verify with your bank and official agencies. Last reviewed July 2026.