If you’ve been scammed by a business, act quickly. The faster you respond, the better your chances of recovering money or limiting damage.
- Collect Evidence
Save everything related to the transaction:
- Receipts and invoices
- Emails, texts, and chat messages
- Screenshots of the website or advertisement
- Bank or card statements
- Delivery tracking information
- The company’s contact details
Do not delete messages even if the business blocks you later.
- Contact the Business First
Ask for:
- A refund
- Replacement
- Cancellation
- Written explanation
Be clear and professional. Set a deadline (for example, 7 days).
If the company has an official support page, use it. For example:
- Contact Your Bank or Card Provider
If you paid by:
- Credit card
- Debit card
- UPI
- Net banking
- Wallet app
Immediately report the transaction.
Ask about:
- Chargebacks
- Payment disputes
- Fraud investigation
- Freezing future payments
For UPI fraud in India, you can also report through:
- National Cyber Crime Portal
- Dial 1930 quickly for financial cyber fraud reporting in India.
- Change Passwords
If you entered personal or payment information:
- Change passwords immediately
- Enable two-factor authentication
- Monitor bank accounts and email logins
Especially important if the scam involved fake shopping sites or phishing links.
- Report the Scam
Depending on the type of scam, report it to consumer and cyber authorities.
In India
Internationally
- Warn Others
You can help others avoid the scam by leaving factual reviews on:
- Google Reviews
- Trustpilot
- Social media
Stick to facts to avoid legal problems.
- Watch for “Recovery Scams”
After being scammed, some criminals pretend they can recover your money for a fee. Be careful:
- Do not pay upfront recovery fees
- Do not share OTPs or banking PINs
- Avoid unofficial “agents” on social media
Signs a Business May Be a Scam
- Prices are unrealistically low
- No physical address or working phone number
- Pressure to pay immediately
- Only accepts crypto or bank transfer
- Poor grammar and copied website content
- No refund policy
