Recovery · beginner · 12 min
Scammed? Report & Recover
The practical recovery playbook: stop the bleeding, report to the right channel, get expert help, and rebuild without shame.
- Take the right first actions in the first hour
- Choose between ReportCyber and Scamwatch correctly
- Recover without falling for the follow-up recovery scam
The recovery playbook
First: you're not stupid. Scammers are professionals and it happens to thousands of Australians every week. What matters now is the next hour.
1. Stop the bleeding
- Bank or card involved? Call your bank immediately. They can flag accounts, attempt recalls, and freeze cards.
- Gift cards? Contact the issuer (iTunes, Google Play, etc.) — some recover unredeemed cards.
- Passwords or codes given away? Change passwords now, starting with email, and turn on 2FA.
- Remote access installed? Disconnect from the internet, uninstall the software, and run a security scan.
2. Report it — the right channel
- ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au/report) for cybercrime: phishing, hacking, identity theft, online fraud.
- Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam) for consumer scams of any kind.
- Identity documents involved? Call IDCARE on 1800 595 160 — free national identity support.
- Threatened or in danger? Contact your local police.
3. Gather the evidence
Dates, amounts, screenshots, links, sender details, transaction references. Report the facts you have — you don't need a perfect dossier to start.
4. Protect the next person
Tell friends and family. Post about the scam on community groups. Every report helps the National Anti-Scam Centre warn others. And if someone contacts you offering to "recover your money" for a fee — that's the follow-up scam. Hang up.
The shame tax
Scammers depend on victims staying quiet. Talk about it. The fastest way to defang a scam is to say it out loud to someone you trust.