Fraud & Scam FAQ

Stop all contact with the scammer immediately — do not respond even if threatened or guilted. Contact your bank or payment provider within 24 hours, as this is your best window for a transaction recall. Screenshot and save all evidence: messages, profiles, transaction records, and URLs. Then file a report with your national fraud authority. For larger losses, contact a licensed private investigator. Full guide: How to Report a Scam.

Reporting to authorities like the FTC or Action Fraud does not typically result in direct fund recovery for individual victims — these agencies use reports to build large-scale enforcement cases. Your best direct recovery options are contacting your bank immediately (within 24–48 hours), disputing credit card charges via chargeback, and for significant losses, engaging a licensed investigator who can pursue civil litigation and formal asset recovery.

No — you should still report it. Most fraud authorities accept reports months or even years after the event. While fund recovery becomes harder over time, your report contributes to pattern recognition that may lead to action against the criminal network. It is never pointless to report.

Absolutely not. Scammers are professional criminals — often organized networks — who use sophisticated psychological techniques honed over thousands of victims. Fraud victims include doctors, lawyers, engineers, and financial professionals. Embarrassment is one of the biggest reasons fraud goes unreported, which allows scammers to keep operating. Reporting helps others.

Stop sending money immediately. Do not block the person yet — preserve all evidence first. Reverse image search their profile photos using Google Images or TinEye. Search their claimed name plus the word "scam" online. Then submit the details to us for a free confidential review — we can help you assess the situation before you take further action.

Report online 24/7 at actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040 Monday–Friday, 8am–8pm. You'll be guided through a structured form and receive a crime reference number at the end. Have ready: your personal details, description of events, scammer details, and financial records. Full guide: Action Fraud Guide.

File at ReportFraud.ftc.gov — it takes about 10 minutes and you'll receive a confirmation number. For investment fraud, also report to the SEC at sec.gov/tcr. For internet crimes, file with the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov. Full guide: FTC Fraud Guide.

Yes — the FTC, Action Fraud, and Scamwatch (Australia) all accept anonymous reports. Providing your contact details does increase the chance of follow-up, but anonymous reports still contribute to investigations and pattern tracking.

Yes. Always report in your own country first. Your national authority can refer cross-border cases to Interpol, Europol, or relevant foreign law enforcement. A local case file is required before international referrals can be made. A private investigator with international experience can also help build cross-border cases.

Report to Google Safe Browsing, Microsoft/Bing's unsafe site reporting tool, the domain registrar (find it via lookup.icann.org), and your national cyber authority (NCSC in the UK, CISA in the US). Full guide: Report a Scam Website.

Police are constrained by caseloads, jurisdictions, and the need to prioritize violent crime. A private investigator works exclusively on your case, uses advanced OSINT and digital forensics tools, can trace cryptocurrency wallet movements, identify people behind fake profiles, and build a complete evidence package for civil litigation or law enforcement referral — all much faster than public agencies.

Fees vary widely. Simple OSINT investigations may start at a few hundred dollars. Complex cross-border fraud investigations with blockchain forensics can run into thousands. All legitimate investigators provide a written contract with clear fee structures before starting work. Our initial case review is always free — you'll get an honest assessment before any cost commitment.

Verify their license number with your state or national regulatory body. Legitimate PIs always provide a written contract, charge professional fees (never via crypto or gift cards), have a verifiable business address and registration, and can provide references. Anyone claiming to "hack" accounts or access private data illegally is not a legitimate investigator — and is likely running a scam themselves.

For losses under $2,000–$1,000, PI fees may exceed the recoverable amount. In these cases, focus on official reporting channels and bank chargebacks. Our free case review gives you an honest recommendation based on your specific situation — we'll tell you upfront if investigation services genuinely make financial sense.

A pig butchering scam (sha zhu pan) is a long-con fraud where scammers build a relationship with victims over weeks or months — often romantically — then introduce a fake cryptocurrency investment platform. Victims invest increasing amounts as they see fabricated profits, until the scammer steals everything and disappears. Full guide: Pig Butchering Scams.

Blockchain transactions are permanently recorded and traceable with specialist tools like Chainalysis and CipherTrace. If funds passed through a regulated exchange, legal processes can sometimes freeze accounts or compel identity disclosure. Recovery is not guaranteed, but blockchain forensics significantly improves the evidence picture for law enforcement and civil legal action.

Check regulatory status: FCA Register (UK) at register.fca.org.uk, FINRA BrokerCheck (US) at brokercheck.finra.org, ASIC Connect (Australia), ESMA register (EU). Look up their exact company name and registration number — not just a similar-looking name. Clone firm fraud is common. If in doubt, call the regulator directly using the number on their official website, not any number provided by the broker.