Although there are some exceptions, you often can't get your money back if you fall for a scam. There's also no way to take back any personal information that you sent. But there are a few steps you can take that might help prevent additional fraud and protect other people:

• Report the scam and scammer. You can report scammers to the BBB and the FTC online. Additionally, report the scam and related message to any relevant parties, such as your bank, credit card issuer, social media platform, email provider, phone carrier or the USPS' Postal Inspection Service. You can also file a police report, which might help with recovering your identity or lost funds.
• Scan your devices. If you clicked on a link or attachment, you may want to run an antivirus scan to check for malware.
• Change your passwords. Change the passwords on any accounts that use a password the scammer might know. Use this as an opportunity to create stronger passwords or try out the newer passwordless option called passkeys that are available on some websites.
• Protect your credit. You may be worried about identity theft if you gave the scammer your personal information. You have the right to add fraud alerts and security freezes, also called credit freezes, to your credit reports for free. These can help keep someone else from opening an account using your information.

Monitoring Your Credit and Identity

Following basic safety strategies and reviewing the latest scam alerts can help you stay safe. But mistakes can happen, particularly when you're stressed or overwhelmed. Even if you're doing everything right, your information could be compromised in a data breach.