Online scams aren’t just a headline you scroll past—they’re one of the fastest-growing crimes in the U.S. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, Americans lost billions of dollars to online scams in recent years, with victims of every age and background. “No one is immune,” the FBI says. “Scammers target anyone they think they can manipulate.”
But what happens after you get scammed? How do you stop the damage and does the law actually help? To answer that, we’ll break down the first steps you should take, explain the laws meant to protect victims and walk through real-life cases where scammers were tracked down, prosecuted and forced to pay.
The First Few Hours Matter Most
Imagine this: You open your banking app and see thousands of dollars gone. Or you get a sinking feeling after realizing that the “tech support agent” who remote-controlled your laptop was a scammer. In moments like that, every minute counts.
The first thing experts say is simple but crucial: stop all contact with the scammer. Don’t reply to emails, don’t pick up their calls and don’t explain yourself. Scammers are experts at keeping victims on the hook, often using threats or fake sympathy to get more money.
Next, grab your phone and call your bank ASAP, most banks have special numbers just for this kind of thing. And if you’re quick they might be able to stop the money from going through or even get it back.
Same goes for apps like PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle. They all have teams that deal with scams. The faster you tell them, the better your chances are. Waiting even a few hours could be the difference between losing a few bucks and losing everything.
Then comes the digital cleanup: change your passwords, starting with your email and financial accounts and turn on two-factor authentication to block further access.
Save everything. Screenshots of texts or social media messages, receipts, bank statements and even the scammer’s email address or fake website URL. All this becomes evidence for investigators.
Once you’re safe, report the scam. Start with the platform where it happened. For example, Instagram or eBay can suspend scammer accounts. Then file a complaint with the FBI at IC3, which tracks internet crime across the country. And don’t forget your local police—they often work alongside federal agencies in fraud investigations.
How U.S. Laws Actually Protect You
The U.S. has an entire web of laws dedicated to fighting scams. They might sound like alphabet soup but they matter because prosecutors use these statutes to charge scammers and recover money for victims.
One of the most powerful is the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), which makes it a crime to hack, steal data, or commit fraud using a computer. “Nearly every device connected to the internet is a ‘protected computer’ under federal law,” the Department of Justice explains. That means scammers can be prosecuted even if they’re halfway across the country.
There’s also wire fraud law (18 U.S.C. § 1343), which covers scams that happen over phone lines, email or online transactions. Prosecutors use this in cases ranging from romance scams to fake investment schemes.
Identity theft? That’s covered by the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act. Tax scams? The IRS publishes a “Dirty Dozen” list every year warning taxpayers of the latest tricks.
And it’s not just federal laws at play. States have their own consumer protection laws, and attorneys general can sue scammers, shut down fake businesses and push for restitution.
In other words, there’s a legal army behind you, if you report the crime quickly.
The Elderly Woman Who Fought Back Against a $550K Scam
In February 2025, a story out of Connecticut showed exactly why acting fast matters.
According to the Department of Justice, An elderly woman got a call from someone claiming to be a Microsoft tech support agent. They said her computer was infected and convinced her to send money “to secure her accounts.” Over a series of calls, she wired nearly $550,000 to scammers.
When she finally realized something was wrong, she didn’t hesitate. She contacted her bank and filed a report with federal authorities. The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office launched an investigation, tracked the scammers’ accounts, and froze a big chunk of the stolen money.
Within months, prosecutors recovered $328,573 through civil asset forfeiture. That money went back to her.
The suspects faced wire fraud and computer crime charges under the CFAA. This case was widely reported because it showed that even when scammers seem untouchable, quick reporting gives investigators a chance to claw back stolen funds.
A $2.8 Million Romance Scam Targeting a Holocaust Survivor
Some scams are more than financial crimes. They’re emotional manipulation. In July 2023, a Florida woman named Peaches Stergo was sentenced for running one of the most heartbreaking scams of recent years.
Stergo met her victim, an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor, on a dating site. Over four years, she built a fake romantic relationship, convincing him that she needed money for “legal problems” and other fake emergencies, and he believed her. Bit by bit, he sent her over $2.8 million because he trusted her completely.
The scam unraveled when the victim’s family noticed unusual withdrawals and called authorities. Federal prosecutors stepped in and Stergo eventually pled guilty. She was sentenced to over four years in prison.
Even more importantly, the court ordered her to forfeit her assets, including expensive cars and jewelry she bought with the stolen money, so the victim could get some justice, The Guardian reports.
This case grabbed headlines across the country because of the shocking betrayal but it also sent a clear message: romance scams are taken seriously and law enforcement will track scammers no matter how personal the con.
Why Victims Shouldn’t Stay Silent
Many scam victims never report what happened because they feel ashamed. They think, “How could I fall for that?” But investigators say silence only helps criminals.
“Scammers rely on embarrassment to keep their crimes hidden,” the FTC warns on its website. The faster you report, the faster they can act and the more likely you are to get some of your money back.
The FBI’s IC3 site makes reporting easy. The FTC also collects complaints at Report Fraud, and most state attorneys general have fraud hotlines. If you’re over 60, the DOJ’s Elder Justice Hotline (1-833-FRAUD-11) is there for you.
What the Experts Say
Cybercrime experts say the key to staying safe isn’t just knowing what to do after a scam. It’s spotting one before it happens.
“Scammers are professional manipulators,” says cybersecurity analyst Joseph Steinberg. “They use fear and urgency to make you act without thinking.”
Red flags include requests for payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers; threats of arrest; and sudden “romantic” interest from strangers online.
Banks and platforms are also stepping up. Many now have fraud detection systems that can flag suspicious activity in real time but they rely on users to confirm alerts quickly.
Why Laws Are Changing
The rise of AI, deepfake videos and cryptocurrency has made scams more advanced than ever but laws are evolving to keep up. Federal prosecutors have used existing statutes like wire fraud to cover new schemes while lawmakers are pushing for stronger penalties for cybercrime and identity theft.
One thing hasn’t changed: evidence is power. The more you document, the easier it is for law enforcement to take action.
Online scams are everywhere but they’re not unbeatable. Victims who act quickly: cutting off contact, alerting their banks, saving evidence and reporting to the FBI have a better shot at getting justice.
The Connecticut woman who got $328,573 back and the Holocaust survivor whose scammer went to prison prove that these cases aren’t hopeless. Federal laws like the CFAA and wire fraud statutes give prosecutors serious tools to chase criminals, seize stolen assets and send them to prison.
As the FBI puts it: “If you’ve been scammed, speak up. You’re not alone, and your report could save someone else.”
