What to do immediately after losing money

First hour

1. Stop all payments and contact. Do not send “release fees”. Scam pressure is designed to keep you paying.
2. Call your bank's fraud line. Request a recall/chargeback and ask what's possible for your payment method. For e-Transfers, ask about cancellation; for cards, dispute; for wires, request a recall notice to the receiving bank.
3. If crypto was sent: identify the receiving exchange if possible and ask them to freeze funds; note all tx hashes.
4. Secure your accounts: change email/banking passwords, enable 2FA, scan devices for remote-access software the scammer may have had you install.

First day

1. Preserve evidence per our evidence guide (screenshots, receipts, PDFs of the site, contact points).
2. Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and obtain a police report number from your local service.
3. File your TrustTrace report so our team can check for related cases and advise on next steps.
4. Protect your identity: if you shared ID documents or SIN, contact Equifax and TransUnion for fraud alerts, and monitor accounts.

First week

• Follow up your bank request in writing and keep all reference numbers
• Watch for recovery-scam contact (see our guide) — expect it, don't fall for it
• If identity documents were stolen, replace them (Service Canada for SIN card concerns, provincial services for driver's licence/health card)
• Tell someone: isolation is the scam's ally. Family, bank, and support services all help

About recovery expectations

Recovery depends on payment method, speed, and where funds went — cards are often recoverable via chargeback; wires sometimes; crypto rarely and only when an exchange freezes funds early. Be suspicious of anyone promising otherwise. Our team will give you an honest assessment, not a promise.