Help Guides
I think I have been scammed online. What do I do?
First, you are not alone and this is not your fault. These scams are designed by professionals to trick people. Here is what to do next.
If you think you have been scammed, the most important steps are: do not send any more money, contact your bank if payment was involved, and get your device checked if the scammer had access to it. We can help you work through all of this.
This is one of the most distressing things that can happen with technology. If you are not sure what to do or you just want someone calm and patient to walk you through it, give us a call. We handle this regularly and there is no judgment here.
What to do right now
Stop all contact with the scammer
Do not reply to any further messages, emails, or calls from the person or company involved. Do not send any more money, gift cards, or personal information, even if they are pressuring you or threatening you. The pressure is part of the scam.
Contact your bank straight away if money was involved
If you paid by bank transfer, credit card, or debit card, call your bank as soon as possible. Banks have fraud teams who deal with this regularly. The sooner you call, the better the chance of recovering funds or stopping further charges. Ask them to flag your account for monitoring.
Change your passwords
If the scammer may have seen or obtained any of your passwords, change them immediately, starting with your email and online banking. Use a different password for each account. If you are not sure how to do this, we can help you during a visit.
We can help you through this
We visit homes across Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, and Oshawa and help people recover from online scams. No judgment, no lectures, just calm help to get things sorted.
Get Help NowGet your device checked if the scammer had access to it
Some scams involve convincing you to install software that gives the scammer remote access to your computer. If that happened, your device needs to be checked and cleaned before you use it for anything sensitive, like online banking or email. We do this during a visit and make sure nothing has been left behind.
Report it
You can report online scams to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or through their website. Reporting helps authorities track patterns and warn others. You can also report to your local police, though financial recovery through police is limited.
Watch out for follow-up scams
Unfortunately, people who have been scammed once are sometimes targeted again, often by scammers posing as recovery services or law enforcement. If anyone contacts you promising to get your money back for a fee, that is almost certainly another scam.
We can help you get through this
Dealing with the aftermath of a scam is stressful and confusing. You do not have to figure it out on your own. We visit homes across Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, and Oshawa and help people work through exactly this kind of situation every week. No judgment, no lectures, just calm and clear help.
Get help today
We help people recover from online scams across Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, and Oshawa. One visit, one flat fee, and we explain everything clearly before we leave.
Get Help TodayFAQ
Common questions about online scams
- Should I be embarrassed about being scammed?
No. These scams are designed by professionals to trick people. They target everyone and they are extremely convincing. We see this regularly and we never judge. The important thing is knowing what to do next.
- Do I need to buy a new computer after a scam?
Usually not. In most cases we can check your device, remove anything that should not be there, and secure it properly. Replacing your computer is rarely necessary.
- The scammer had remote access to my computer. Is it safe now?
It needs to be checked properly before you use it for anything sensitive. Remote access scams can leave behind software that gives the scammer ongoing access. We check for this and remove it during a visit.