After a crime, scam or harassment

VictimConnect is a confidential helpline where crime victims can learn about their rights and options. Trained specialists offer emotional support, information and referrals to local services, including help with money and legal questions. Call or text 1-855-484-2846 (855-4VICTIM) or chat online at victimconnect.org.

Every U.S. state has services for victims of crime. A victim advocate can help you understand the legal process, go with you to court, and connect you with counseling.

Every state has a crime victim compensation program. You may be able to get money back for medical care, mental health counseling, lost wages and other costs caused by the crime. Each state sets its own rules, limits and deadlines, so it helps to ask early.

Good to know

• Programs usually ask you to report the crime to police
• There may be a deadline to apply, so ask early
• Keep receipts and bills related to the crime
• A victim advocate or VictimConnect can help you find your state’s program

The faster you act, the better the chance of getting some money back. Use the phone number on the back of your card or on the company’s official website, not one the scammer gave you.

Who to contact

• Credit or debit card: your card company. Ask to reverse the charge.
• Bank transfer: your bank or credit union. Ask them to reverse the payment.
• Gift card: the company that issued the card. Keep the card and receipt.
• Wire transfer or payment app: the company you used. Say you were tricked and ask for a refund.
• Cryptocurrency: the exchange or ATM company. Recovery is harder, but report it right away.

If you gave a scammer your Social Security number and it has been used, go to IdentityTheft.gov to report it and get a step-by-step recovery plan. If you shared a password, change it everywhere you used it and turn on two-factor authentication.

Also consider

• Checking your bank and card statements closely for a few months
• Asking your bank to add extra security to your accounts
• Telling the people close to you, so they know not to trust messages “from you” asking for money

Report scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC uses reports to build cases against scammers and to spot new tricks so it can warn the public. You can also tell your state attorney general.

People who have been scammed are often targeted again. Someone may contact you claiming to be a government agency, a lawyer or the original company, offering to recover your money for a fee. Real agencies never ask for money to help you get a refund.

Red flags

• They contacted you first and ask for an upfront fee
• They ask for your Social Security number or bank details “to send the refund”
• They want payment by gift card, crypto, wire transfer or cash
• They promise you will definitely get your money back
• They send a “refund” check for more than you lost and ask you to send the extra back

Victims of stalking are advised to collect evidence of what the other person has done, because it helps police and courts take action. Once you block or report someone, the messages may vanish, so save them first.

What to capture

• Screenshots that show the message, the account name and the date and time
• The web address (link) of posts or profiles
• Voicemails, emails and texts (do not delete them)
• A simple log: date, time, where it happened, what was said or done, any witnesses

When you are hurt or angry, it is natural to want to defend yourself. But arguing back often fuels a pile-on and can be used against you later. Silence is not weakness. It protects your energy and keeps the record clean.

Instead, try

• Muting words, turning off notifications or limiting who can comment
• Asking a friend to read and sort messages for you for a while
• Writing the reply you wish you could send, then deleting it
• Taking a full break from the app for a few days

If someone may have got into an account, change the password, including on any other account where you used the same one, and turn on two-factor authentication. That means a code or app check is needed as well as your password.

Quick safety check

• Make accounts private for now, and review who follows you
• Turn off location sharing in apps and photos
• Check which devices are logged in to your accounts and log out any you do not know
• Search your own name to see what personal details are public
• Tell friends not to tag your location or share where you are

If someone threatens you, keeps contacting you after you have asked them to stop, or you fear for your safety, you can report it to your local police. Call 911 if you are in danger right now. Take all threats seriously, even if they seem like a joke.

If you need protection, you can ask a court for a protective order, which limits the other person’s contact with you. A victim advocate at the police department or a local victim service program may help you make a safety plan.

Harassment often spills from online into real life. Schools and employers can act when it involves their students or staff, even if it happens on personal accounts.

1. Bring your log and screenshots.
2. Say clearly what happened and how it is affecting you.
3. Ask what they will do and when you will hear back.
4. Follow up in writing (an email) so there is a record.

After a crime, many people replay what they “should” have done: locked the door, taken another route, fought back. Self-blame is a very common stress reaction, but it puts the weight on the wrong person.

Try

• Saying out loud: “What happened is the fault of the person who did it.”
• Letting yourself feel angry, then putting that energy into something safe, like a walk or a workout
• Talking with people who have been through something similar, through a victim support group

Many people feel foolish, betrayed or furious with themselves after a scam, especially when it involved a fake romance or someone they trusted. You might lose sleep, replay the conversations or worry about money. These are normal stress reactions to a real loss.

What helps

• Tell one person you trust. You will likely find they know someone it happened to.
• Notice blame and swap it: “I was deceived by a professional” instead of “I was stupid”
• If it was a romance scam, let yourself grieve. The feelings you had were real, even if the person was not.
• Make a simple plan for any money gap, step by step

Being targeted online can cause the same stress reactions as other frightening events: trouble sleeping, checking your phone constantly, feeling on guard or wanting to hide. These usually ease once the harassment stops and you feel safer.

What helps

• Spend time offline with people who know the real you
• Keep phones out of the bedroom at night
• Remind yourself: their words say more about them than about you
• Talk to a counselor if fear or low mood is not lifting