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No matter when this happened, if you are currently in crisis or have thoughts of suicide, please call ‘988’ for support.

 

If your mental or emotional health has been impacted following your scam experience, you are not alone. Almost 50 percent of people who have been targeted by a scam reported losing confidence or peace of mind following a scam attempt, according to BBB research. 

Remember, feeling this way is entirely normal. In fact, sometimes people have strong and painful emotions such as shame, guilt, and anger. These emotions are entirely normal, and for some of these, it will help to remember that this is not your fault.  

If your mental or emotional health have been impacted, the following steps are offered to help you take your power back.

  1. Talk to a non-judgmental and supportive person such as a friend, family member, member of the clergy, mental health counselor, or support hotline. Our one-pager provides suggestions on how to choose the right person to speak with.
  2. If you are struggling to get back on track, consider talking to a professional.

We’ve outlined some additional steps you can take to protect your mental and emotional well-being:

  • Consider joining a support group. 
    • Choose a group that is established, trustworthy, and private.
    • Ensure the group is facilitated, trauma-informed, and evidence-aligned.
  • Call 2-1-1 to find low- or no-cost assistance in your community.
  • Practice “self-care.” 
    • Make time for activities that are soothing or enjoyable for you.
    • Examples: yoga, meditation, listening to music, talking to friends, or going for a walk in nature or around your neighborhood. Any safe activity that makes you feel good can be self-care.
    • Because people have different preferences for self-care, click here for an extended list that could give you some ideas for yourself.
  • Monitor your mental health by simply assessing how you’re doing and continuing to practice mindfulness and self-care.
  • Cautions:
    • Be wary of the urge to self-medicate with alcohol, drugs, shopping, or gambling, etc. while recovering from your experience.
    • Be careful about making important decisions during this time of stress.

 

If you are struggling in other ways, consider reading the following guides

 

If you are currently in crisis, please call the 988 hotline.

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Warn others (report a scam)

Good job taking control of the situation! We recommend taking a few moments to report the scam to the BBB, which can help us fight fraud. If you haven’t already, please consider reporting the incident you encountered to BBB Scam TrackerSM, our prevention and reporting platform.

 

Reporting the scam to the proper channels can help law enforcement shut down scam operations that prey on others; BBB shares its data with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Scam submissions are published on BBB Scam TrackerSM, which enables the public to search the reports and determine whether they are being targeted. BBB Scam TrackerSM reports are also used to publish timely research and consumer education resources. Report your scam incident to BBB Scam TrackerSM. 

Avoid future scams (learn how)

Research indicates that possessing knowledge about scams and scam tactics can help people spot and avoid scams that will inevitably target them. The unfortunate truth is that scammers will always try to steal data, money, and important information from people.

 

Even when scammers are caught, others will replace them. The best defense, then, is to understand what a scam looks like and how to respond. Protect yourself and your loved ones by learning more about scam types and tactics by visiting BBB’s Scam Prevention Guide.