What to do if you handed over cash, gold, or cards
It's not your fault. These scammers pretend to be your bank, the police, or a government agency, and they are very convincing. Acting now can stop more losses and help the police find the people involved.
Do these steps in order
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Do this now Call 911 now if someone is coming to pick up money
This includes a meeting somewhere else, like a parking lot. Hang up on the caller first. Don't open the door or hand anything over.
What to say: “A stranger is coming to collect money from me for a scam. Please send an officer.”
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Do this now Try to stop the package now if you mailed or shipped cash
If it hasn't been delivered yet, it may still be stopped. For FedEx or UPS, call the number on your receipt. For the U.S. Mail, call the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and ask them to stop it. Their number is on the Postal Inspection Service page below. There may be a fee.
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Do this now Call your bank now and cancel any card you handed over
Use the number on your bank statement, in your bank's official app, or on another card from the same bank. Tell them how much cash you took out and when. If you shared a PIN, say so. Only gave cash? Tell them anyway, so they can watch your accounts.
What to say: “I was scammed. I gave my card to a stranger. Please cancel it, send me a new one, and check for charges I didn't make.”
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Report it to your local police
Call your police department's non-emergency line, or go in person. Bring what you remember: what the courier and their car looked like, and the license plate. Add the time, any code word, and the numbers that called you. Bring any gold receipts. Ask for a copy of the report.
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Hang up if anyone asks you to hand over cash, gold, or cards
No real bank, police officer, or government agency sends someone to collect them. Scammers often call back with a new story to get more. Hang up, then tell someone you trust what happened.
Follow up later
- Tomorrow: call back and ask for your case or claim number. Write it down.
- In 30 days: look at your bank and card statements for anything you don’t know.
Keep your place
To keep your place, bookmark this page or copy your private link.
Keep the link private. It shows the steps you’ve ticked. Never send it to anyone who calls, texts, or emails you. Latchstring will never ask for it. Your browser’s history also keeps this address, and may copy it to your Google or Apple account if you sync. On a shared phone or computer, use a private window, or clear your history afterward.
Did any of these happen too?
- I sent money by bank, Zelle, wire, Western Union, or MoneyGram
- I paid with an app like Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal
- I paid with a credit or debit card
- I paid with gift cards
- I sent crypto or used a Bitcoin ATM
- I deposited a check and sent money back
- I shared a code or password
- My phone suddenly has no service
- My email or social media account was hacked
- I let someone into my computer or phone
- Someone is using my name, or I gave out my Social Security number
Then, report it and get free help
- Report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (Federal Trade Commission).
- Also report it to the FBI at IC3.gov, even if it started with a phone call or a visit.
- Get a free recovery plan from a real person: call or text 888-400-5530 (Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit).
- Age 60 or older? Call the Justice Department’s National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311 for free help reporting it. Mon–Fri, 10 am–6 pm Eastern.
- Feeling overwhelmed? Call or text 988, any time.
Watch for a second scam. Anyone who contacts you offering to get your money back for a fee, a code, your bank details, or access to your phone or computer is a scammer, even if they say they’re the FBI, the FTC, a lawyer, or us. Don’t search online for a company’s phone number either. Scammers post fake ones.
This guide was last checked in October 2026. Sources: