What to do after an investment scam

1. Contact the institution that handled the payment

Use the official app, the number on your card or statement, or a website address you independently verify. Explain that you believe the payment involved a scam. Ask what fraud-reporting, recall, refund, or dispute options apply to that payment. The FTC recommends contacting the payment provider promptly; the process and outcome depend on how you paid.

Prepare the transaction date, amount, original currency, recipient details, and payment reference. Describe accurately whether you authorized the payment or someone accessed your account without permission. Ask what documents are required and what deadlines apply to your situation. Write down the reference number and the next action the institution asks you to take.

Sources: FTC: What to do if you were scammed

Choose your first contact from the payment record

Start with the receipt for money you actually sent. A name on a trading website may differ from the recipient on your statement; give the institution both names and explain the difference. The FTC's US guidance recommends asking the relevant payment provider about reversal or refund options. Availability is not a promise of success.

If you bought cryptocurrency and then sent it elsewhere, describe both steps. Do not describe the exchange purchase as an unauthorized payment if you made it yourself. Ask which action is available for each transaction; keep the two responses together.

Sources: FTC: What to do if you were scammed

2. Keep the story separate from the records

Create two folders: one for original files and one for your working notes. Keep messages, emails, statements, receipts, website addresses, and screenshots in the original folder. In the notes, describe what each item shows. A screenshot of a trading dashboard records what the platform displayed; it does not establish that the displayed balance was held on your behalf.

Build a short timeline with one event per line. Include the first contact, the explanation you were given, each payment, any withdrawal request, and the response. Mark estimates and uncertain dates clearly. If a conversation happened by phone, write your recollection and identify it as a note rather than a recording.

3. Make reports through official channels

Choose the reporting channels relevant to where you live and what happened. In the United States, the FTC accepts scam reports and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center accepts internet-crime reports. The FBI's cryptocurrency guidance asks victims to provide transaction details. Outside the United States, use your local police and appropriate financial or consumer authority.

Keep the submission confirmation and case reference for each report. Record exactly which evidence you sent. A report to Justice Point creates a private case in this service; it does not automatically file a police report, submit a bank dispute, or notify a regulator. Complete those steps directly where appropriate.

Sources: FBI IC3: Guidance for cryptocurrency scam victims · FTC: What to do if you were scammed

4. Use a simple follow-up log

A useful log has five columns: date, organization contacted, reference, action requested, and next follow-up. For example, record that you called your bank, received a reference, and were asked for a statement and the recipient's details. Record the actual information the bank gives you; do not fill gaps with an assumed deadline or outcome.

When new information arrives, add it to the existing timeline. If a payment is returned, record the amount and currency separately from the amount originally sent. Keep disputed figures visible so that a reviewer can explain the difference rather than overwrite the history.

A short incident summary you can adapt

Fictional example, not a Justice Point client case: I transferred USD 2,400 on 12 August after receiving investment instructions by message. My statement names Recipient A; the website used a different trading name. I requested a withdrawal on 20 August. A message then asked for another USD 300, which I did not pay. I have the transfer receipt and messages; I do not yet have a complete website export.

This version identifies the actual payment, the unfulfilled request and the evidence gap. It does not add the unpaid USD 300 demand to the amount sent, or treat the displayed trading profit as money held. Replace every detail with your own records and identify anything you only remember.

For a cryptocurrency report to the FBI IC3, submit the information you have promptly; its guidance says not to wait for a complete set of transaction details. Record what is missing and add the institution's instructions for supplying further information to your follow-up log.

Sources: FBI IC3: Guidance for cryptocurrency scam victims

5. Prepare for a case review

Start with a short summary: who contacted you, what was offered, how you paid, and why you now believe something is wrong. Then attach the supporting records. In Justice Point, you can save a draft, upload evidence, record public wallet references, and speak to the case team in one conversation.

An assessment should explain its supporting evidence and limits. Keep reported loss, a transaction trail, and money actually returned as separate figures. Ask your reviewer what the next recommended action is and who can carry it out. A completed report or a visible wallet balance does not guarantee recovery.