What to Do If You Fall for a Scam

2 Min. Read

Falling for a scam can feel overwhelming, but taking quick action can limit the damage and help you recover. This guide gives you a clear, step-by-step list of actions to take if your personal or financial information has been compromised. Keep it handy as a reference and know that resources are available to support you throughout the recovery process.

What Are My Rights as a Scam Victim?

If you become a victim of a scam and your personal information is compromised, you have the right to:

• Create an FTC Identity Theft Report
• Place a one-year fraud alert on your credit report
• Place a seven-year extended fraud alert on your credit report
• Get free copies of your credit report
• Get fraudulent information removed (or “blocked”) from your credit report
• Dispute fraudulent or inaccurate information on your credit report
• Stop creditors and debt collectors from reporting fraudulent accounts
• Get copies of documents related to the identity theft
• Stop a debt collector from contacting you

Immediate Steps to Take After Fraud

Did you share your information with the wrong person online? Are you concerned your identity has been stolen? If you’re worried you’ve been targeted and your personal information has been compromised, act right away!

Contact the FTC

IdentityTheft.gov is the federal government’s one-stop resource for identity theft victims.

Contact Your Bank or Credit Union

Report any suspicious activity, identity theft, or fraud issues that could affect your accounts to your local Marine Credit Union branch office.

Freeze Your Credit

Contact the national credit bureaus to request fraud alerts and credit freezes (also known as security freezes).

Equifax

Website: https://www.equifax.com/

Phone Number: 800-685-1111

Experian

Website: https://www.experian.com/

Phone Number: 888-397-3742

TransUnion

Website: https://www.transunion.com/

Phone Number: 888-909-8872

Consider Filing a Police Report

If you know the person who committed the crime or not, alert the authorities and file a police report.

Secure Your Device

If someone gained access to your device, you downloaded malicious software or clicked on a suspicious link, or you used an unsecured website, take steps to protect your device.

• Have device factory reset or cleaned (and checked for lingering malware)
• Create new online banking credentials
• Reset your passwords for other accounts, using a unique, complex password

Protect Your Accounts and Finances

Update Your Automatic Withdrawals and Direct Deposits

Call or visit companies where you have automatic withdrawals or direct deposits set up and update your account information.

Automatic withdrawal examples: Streaming subscriptions (Hulu, Netflix, etc.), auto or homeowners insurance, utility payments, loan payments.

Direct deposit examples: Direct deposit from employer, social security office, retirement funds, etc.

Regularly Review Your Bank Statements

Review statements from the last 60 days to identify any unauthorized activity and to assist with debit/ACH updates.

Monitor Your Credit Long-Term

After the initial fraud alert or freeze, continue to check your credit report at least once a year (free at AnnualCreditReport.com). This helps ensure no new fraudulent accounts pop up using your information.

Additional Scam, Fraud, and Identity Theft Resources

Scams can happen to anyone, but acting quickly can make all the difference. Reporting fraud, securing your accounts, and monitoring your finances will help you regain control and minimize the damage. For more detailed guidance on prevention, recovery, and protecting your loved ones, visit our full library of fraud protection resources.