What to do if you paid a shop that turned out to be fake

Contact the company you paid through straight away, then report to the authorities. The steps differ by payment method and by country, and anything we could not confirm on an official page says “not confirmed”.

Steps by payment method

Find how you paid. Each line is what an official page says for that country, with the page linked and dated. Act through the company you paid with first, as soon as you can.

credit card
debit card
bank transfer
a payment app
wire transfer or money transfer service
a gift card
cryptocurrency
Cash by mail or courier

I paid by credit card

United States: Contact the card issuer immediately, using the number on the back of the card or the app. Report the unauthorized use, or that a scammer tricked you into paying by credit card, and ask for a refund.
Source: FTC, Jun 2026, opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
United Kingdom: Tell your bank straight away. The NCSC says many credit card payments are protected under the Consumer Credit Act.
Source: UK NCSC; UK NCSC, opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Canada: Report the incident to the financial institution that transferred the money, and to your local police.
Source: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Jan 2026, opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Europe (Europol): Report it to your bank, if you paid with a credit or debit card: you may have some rights to get your money back. Report to your local or national police too.
Source: Europol, updated Feb 2025, opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.

I paid by debit card

United States: Contact your bank or credit union immediately, using the number on the back of the card or the app. Report the unauthorized use or that you were tricked into paying a scammer, and ask for a refund.
Source: FTC, Jun 2026, opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
United Kingdom: Report it to your bank immediately. The NCSC says debit card payments offer less protection, but you might be able to make a claim for a refund under a voluntary scheme called “chargeback”.
Source: UK NCSC; UK NCSC, opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Canada: Report the incident to the financial institution that transferred the money, and to your local police.
Source: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Jan 2026, opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Europe (Europol): Report it to your bank: you may have some rights to get your money back. Report to your local or national police too.
Source: Europol, updated Feb 2025, opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.

I paid by bank transfer

United States: Contact your bank or credit union immediately and ask them to reverse the payment and refund your money. The FBI adds: ask your financial institution to contact the institution where the transfer was sent.
Source: FTC, Jun 2026; FBI IC3, Aug 2020; FBI IC3, Nov 2023, opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
United Kingdom: Tell your bank straight away and report it to Report Fraud (Police Scotland in Scotland). The NCSC’s advice for the future is never to pay a shop by direct bank transfer.
Source: UK NCSC; UK NCSC, opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Canada: Report the incident to the financial institution that transferred the money, and to your local police.
Source: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Jan 2026, opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Europe (Europol): Not confirmed: no official page we opened gives a step for this.

I paid with a payment app

United States: Contact the app itself (the FTC names apps such as Venmo, Cash App and PayPal) and ask them to reverse the payment and refund your money. For Zelle, contact your bank or credit union. The FBI also says to report the activity to the online payment service used.
Source: FTC, Jun 2026; FBI IC3, Aug 2020, opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
United Kingdom: Tell your bank straight away. For PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay, the NCSC says to check their terms and conditions to see what cover they provide.
Source: UK NCSC; UK NCSC, opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Canada: Report the incident to the financial institution that transferred the money, and to your local police.
Source: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Jan 2026, opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Europe (Europol): Not confirmed: no official page we opened gives a step for this.

I paid by wire transfer or money transfer service

United States: Contact the wire transfer company immediately. Tell them a scammer tricked you into sending money, and ask for a refund.
Source: FTC, Jun 2026, opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
United Kingdom: Not confirmed: no official page we opened gives a step for this.
Canada: Report the incident to the financial institution that transferred the money, and to your local police.
Source: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Jan 2026, opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Europe (Europol): Not confirmed: no official page we opened gives a step for this.

I paid with a gift card

United States: Contact the gift card issuer immediately, using the number on the back of the card. Tell them a scammer tricked you into giving the card number and PIN, and ask for a refund. Keep the card and the receipt if you have them.
Source: FTC, Jun 2026, opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
United Kingdom: Not confirmed: no official page we opened gives a step for this.
Canada: Not confirmed: no official page we opened gives a step for this.
Europe (Europol): Not confirmed: no official page we opened gives a step for this.

I paid with cryptocurrency

United States: Contact the cryptocurrency exchange or the ATM operator immediately. Tell them it was a fraudulent transaction and ask them to reverse it and refund you. The FTC says crypto payments lack the same legal protections as credit and debit cards, so recovery can be hard. Then report to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Source: FTC, Jun 2026, opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
United Kingdom: Not confirmed: no official page we opened gives a step for this.
Canada: Not confirmed: no official page we opened gives a step for this.
Europe (Europol): Not confirmed: no official page we opened gives a step for this.

I sent cash by mail or courier

United States: If you sent it by U.S. Mail, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 immediately; for a fee they can intercept a domestic package that has not been delivered. If you used FedEx or UPS, contact the delivery service as soon as possible.
Source: FTC, Jun 2026, opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
United Kingdom: Not confirmed: no official page we opened gives a step for this.
Canada: Not confirmed: no official page we opened gives a step for this.
Europe (Europol): Not confirmed: no official page we opened gives a step for this.

What should I do first, whatever I paid with?

Every official page we opened starts with the same move: contact the company that handled the payment, at once. The FTC says to contact the card issuer, bank, app, wire company or gift card issuer immediately; the FBI says to report the activity to the payment service used and to contact your financial institution immediately to stop or reverse the transaction; the UK NCSC says to tell your bank straight away. Then report to the authorities and keep your receipts, order confirmations and messages.

Can I get my money back?

Nobody here can promise it. What the sources do say is that some payment methods carry protections others do not: the FTC says paying by credit card best protects you, the UK NCSC says many credit card payments are protected under the Consumer Credit Act and debit card payments may allow a chargeback claim, and the FTC says cryptocurrency payments lack the same legal protections so recovery can be hard. Ask the company you paid through what applies to your payment.

What should I say when I contact them?

The FTC gives wording by method: tell the card issuer or bank about the unauthorized use or that you were tricked into paying a scammer and ask for a refund; tell a wire company that a scammer tricked you into sending money; tell a gift card issuer that you were tricked into giving the card number and PIN; ask a payment app or your bank to reverse the payment. Keep the gift card and receipt if you still have them.

Questions about what to do if you paid

Should I pay anyone who offers to recover my money?

The IC3 says it never contacts people for money and does not work with law firms or crypto services to recover funds. Be careful with anyone who says otherwise, and report the contact.

What if I paid in a country that is not listed?

Not confirmed. We list only what an official page we opened says. Contact the company you paid through and your national police or consumer agency.

What if I entered my card number but did not buy?

Europol’s guide says not to submit card details if you are not buying anything and not to send card information by e-mail. For a card you gave to a shop you no longer trust, ask the card issuer what to do; we did not open an official page with more specific steps.

Do I still report if the amount was small?

The FBI’s IC3 asks for reports even when you are unsure the complaint qualifies. The where to report page lists the channels.

Does it matter how long I wait?

The FTC and the FBI both say to act immediately. The only deadline stated on a page we opened is the FTC’s one for a billing error on a card statement: a letter within 60 days of the first bill that shows the error. Ask your card issuer for the rules that apply to you.

More on this site

Check an address, report, and what to do next.

Sources and limits

What To Do if You Were Scammed
Who to contact and what to say, by how you paid: credit card, debit card, wire transfer, gift card, payment app or bank transfer, cryptocurrency, cash; report to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Federal Trade Commission (US consumer protection agency), Consumer Advice. Page dated: June 2026. Opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
FBI Sees Rise In Online Shopping Scams (I-080320-PSA)
Reported indicators of fake shopping sites (low prices, addresses registered within the last six months, copied content and shared contact details, advertised on social media), tips (check the domain registration through Whois, check reviews and the contact details) and the steps for a victim.
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), Public Service Announcement. Page dated: 3 August 2020. Opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
2023 Holiday Shopping Scams (I-111523-PSA)
Untrusted websites and social media ads with unrealistic discounts, retailers that use a free e-mail service, wariness of wire transfers, virtual currency, gift cards or cash, the advice not to judge a company by a flashy website, and the steps for a victim.
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), Public Service Announcement. Page dated: 15 November 2023. Opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Online shopping fraud
If you have lost money, tell your bank straight away and report it to Report Fraud, or contact Police Scotland if you are in Scotland; a suspicious online store can be reported to the NCSC.
National Cyber Security Centre (UK government). Page dated: no date shown. Opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Shopping and paying safely online
Fake shops copy logos and products and use a deceptive domain that resembles a real one; type the known address or search instead of clicking a link; use a credit card (Consumer Credit Act), debit cards may allow a chargeback claim; never pay by direct bank transfer.
National Cyber Security Centre (UK government). Page dated: guidance of 17 January 2019, as dated on the NCSC’s own “Online shopping fraud” page. Opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
What to do if you’re a victim of fraud
Report to the financial institution that transferred the money; report to local police and get a file number; report online at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca or by phone at 1-888-495-8501 (Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4:45 pm Eastern, closed on holidays).
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Page dated: modified 16 January 2026. Opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
E-Commerce: Tips And Advice To Avoid Becoming A Fraud Victim
Read the terms and conditions; check that the merchant’s address details are on the page and proceed with caution if there are none; pay by card because card customer protection can help you get a refund; if you are a victim, report to your local or national police and to your bank.
Europol (European Union law enforcement agency), prevention guide. Page dated: 21 June 2017, updated 10 February 2025. Opened on Sunday, October 11, 2026.

Not confirmed: Wherever a step says “Not confirmed”, no official page we opened gives one for that country and payment method. It does not mean there is nothing to do: ask the company you paid through and your national authorities.

This is information, not advice, and it is not a verdict on any shop. Guidance changes: each source shows the date it carries and the day we opened it. If you have lost money, go to the where to report and what to do if you paid pages.