Once a scam lands, people often freeze. Shame, panic, and confusion are common. This is where Level 3 must do something Level 1 and Level 2 did not: help you recover.

FTC recovery guidance says the first response depends on how you paid or what you shared, but the pattern is:

• stop contact
• contact the bank or payment company immediately
• try to reverse or freeze what you can
• change passwords if accounts are exposed
• save screenshots, receipts, and messages
• report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov

If identity information was stolen, go to IdentityTheft.gov. If crypto was involved, reporting still matters even if recovery is unlikely, because it helps connect cases.

A quick example: you realize a fake investment site has taken thousands of dollars. The scammer says one more payment will unlock the funds. That is the moment to stop sending money, not to negotiate.

What to do:

• Stop the outflow first.
• Document before deleting messages.
• Report quickly, even if you feel embarrassed.

This lesson is part of Spot the Scam from Lumoset Foundation, Fort Wayne, Indiana – free, always, with no account and no catch.