What To Do If You Sent Money to a Refund Scam
If you sent money, gift card numbers, cryptocurrency, a wire transfer, or a payment-app transfer to someone you now believe was a refund scammer, act quickly. You may not be able to get the money back, but fast action can help you protect your accounts, preserve evidence, and avoid being targeted again.
Act quickly, but do not trust "recovery" callers
If someone contacts you claiming they can recover your money for an upfront fee, that is a major warning sign. Do not send more money, do not buy gift cards, and do not give remote access to your computer. Contact your bank, card issuer, payment provider, or official reporting agency directly using a trusted phone number or official website.
First steps to take right now
- 1
Stop communicating with the person who requested the money.
- 2
Take screenshots of messages, emails, receipts, phone numbers, websites, and payment instructions.
- 3
Contact your bank, card issuer, wire service, gift-card company, payment app, or crypto platform immediately.
- 4
Tell them you believe the payment was connected to a scam and ask whether it can be stopped, reversed, frozen, disputed, or flagged.
- 5
Change passwords for any accounts the scammer may have accessed.
- 6
If remote access was given, disconnect the device from the internet and have it checked by a trusted technician.
- 7
Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and, when appropriate, to the FBI IC3.
- 8
Tell a trusted family member or friend so you are not handling follow-up pressure alone.
What to do based on how you paid
Gift cards
If you shared gift card numbers, contact the gift card company immediately. Tell them the card was used in a scam and ask if the balance can be frozen or refunded. Preserve the card, receipt, activation slip, and all messages from the scammer.
Wire transfer
Contact the wire transfer company or your bank immediately. Ask whether the transfer can be cancelled, recalled, flagged, or investigated. Do not use a phone number supplied by the scammer — look up the official contact information yourself.
Payment app
Contact the payment app's official support channel immediately. Report the transaction as scam-related and ask whether it can be reversed or investigated. Use the app's own support feature rather than searching for a phone number online.
Credit or debit card
Call the number on the back of your card or use the official app or website. Ask about dispute options, card replacement, and account monitoring. Acting quickly gives you the best chance of initiating a chargeback.
Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency transfers are often difficult or impossible to reverse. Contact the platform immediately anyway, preserve transaction IDs and wallet addresses, and report the incident to the platform and to law enforcement. Do not send additional cryptocurrency to anyone claiming they can recover your funds.
Cash by mail or courier
If you mailed or sent cash by courier, contact the carrier immediately and ask if the package can be intercepted before delivery. Keep tracking numbers and receipts. Report the situation to the carrier and to law enforcement.
Fake check or overpayment
Banks may initially make check funds available before discovering the check is fake. If the check later bounces, you may be responsible for the money you already sent. Contact your bank immediately, explain the situation, and ask what steps you should take to protect your account.
Save these records before deleting anything
Keep all evidence intact — do not delete messages, receipts, or contact information. These records may be useful when reporting to your bank, the FTC, or law enforcement.
- •emails
- •text messages
- •website URLs
- •phone numbers
- •caller names or fake company names
- •payment receipts
- •gift card photos and receipts
- •wire transfer receipts
- •crypto wallet addresses and transaction IDs
- •shipping/courier tracking numbers
- •bank alerts
- •screenshots of remote-access software
- •any letter, invoice, refund notice, or overpayment instruction
Be careful of refund and recovery scams
After someone loses money to a scam, scammers may contact them again claiming they can recover the funds. They may pretend to be a government agency, investigator, lawyer, hacker, bank employee, or recovery company. A demand for an upfront fee, gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or remote access to your computer is a major warning sign.
Do not pay someone who says they can recover your scam loss for an upfront fee.
How VerifyBefore can help before the next payment
VerifyBefore can review suspicious emails, refund notices, overpayment letters, screenshots, invoices, and payment instructions for risk signals and verification gaps — before you send money or share personal information.
VerifyBefore cannot guarantee that money can be recovered after a payment is sent, and it does not replace your bank, law enforcement, legal advice, financial advice, or professional support.
Check a Document FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Can I get my money back after a refund scam?
Sometimes fast action helps, but recovery is not guaranteed. Contact the company or bank involved in the payment immediately and ask whether the payment can be stopped, reversed, disputed, frozen, or investigated.
What should I do if I paid with gift cards?
Contact the gift card company immediately. Tell them the card was used in a scam and ask if the balance can be frozen or refunded. Save the card, receipt, activation slip, and all messages from the scammer.
What if I deposited a check and sent money back?
Contact your bank immediately. Explain that you may have deposited a fake check and sent money back as part of an overpayment scam. Ask what steps you should take to protect your account and preserve records.
Should I trust someone who says they can recover my scam loss?
Be very careful. A person or company that demands an upfront fee, gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or remote access to recover your money is showing major scam warning signs. Report the contact and do not send more money.
Sources and review information
Published by VerifyBefore: July 27, 2026
Last reviewed: July 27, 2026
Disclaimer: VerifyBefore identifies risk signals and verification gaps in documents and messages. It does not guarantee recovery of lost money, prove fraud, verify document authenticity, or confirm whether a company is legitimate. It does not replace your bank, payment provider, law enforcement, legal advice, financial advice, or professional support. Always contact official sources and speak with someone you trust before taking action.