Scam Response

Falling victim to an online scam is emotionally draining and financially damaging, but acting quickly can significantly increase the chances of financial and legal recovery. Jayne Consulting provides a structured approach used by digital-fraud professionals and cyber-investigators.

1. Secure Your Accounts

Immediately:

  • Change passwords for email, banking, crypto exchanges, and payment apps

  • Enable two-factor authentication

  • Log out of all sessions

  • Revoke suspicious API keys

If scammers gained remote access to your device, disconnect it and run a full security scan.

2. Document All Evidence

This is essential for investigations.

Collect:

  • Transaction receipts

  • Screenshots of chats and dashboards

  • Emails

  • Bank statements

  • Crypto wallet addresses

  • Website URLs

  • Names of brokers/agents

Do not delete or modify anything — even small details help identify scam networks.

3. Notify Your Bank or Exchange

Report unauthorized or manipulated transactions immediately.

Banks may:

  • Freeze fraudulent transfers

  • Reverse unauthorized charges

  • Flag the receiving accounts

  • Support chargeback claims

Crypto exchanges may still stop outgoing transfers if reported early.

4. Report the Scam to Authorities

Depending on your region, agencies may include:

  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

  • Action Fraud (UK)

  • Europol/Interpol

  • ASIC or CySEC for broker scams

  • Local cybercrime units

A case number helps when filing recovery claims.

5. Track Blockchain Activity (For Crypto Scams)

Scammers rely on the belief that crypto is untraceable — it is not.
Using blockchain analytics allows investigators to:

  • Identify scam clusters

  • Trace assets to exchanges

  • Flag wallets for freezing

  • Link addresses to known criminal networks

This step should be handled by professionals with specialized tracing tools.

6. Avoid Secondary Scams

After being scammed, victims often get targeted again by:

  • Fake recovery agents

  • Impersonated law enforcement

  • Unlicensed chargeback companies

  • Crypto “hackers” promising quick recovery

Never pay upfront fees — legitimate investigators do not request deposits to “unlock funds.”

7. Consult a Recovery Specialist

A structured recovery plan includes:

  • Legal positioning

  • Tracing strategy

  • Communication with financial institutions

  • Case consolidation

  • Regulatory reporting

Professional assistance significantly increases the chances of retrieving lost funds.

8. Internal Links 

What to Do Immediately After Falling Victim to a Scam