🚨 If You Become a Victim

Immediate Response Checklist

1. 1.Notify your competent local authorities — report the incident to your IT/security team (if at work) and, for financial fraud, your bank and local law enforcement or national cybercrime reporting center
2. 2.Change your passwords — start with the account that was compromised, then any account that reuses the same or similar password
3. 3.Enable multi-factor authentication — on the compromised account and any other account where it isn't already active
4. 4.Scan your devices for malware — run a full antivirus/anti-malware scan; if a malicious attachment was opened, consider the device compromised until verified clean
5. 5.Alert friends and colleagues — if your account was breached, others in your network may now receive phishing messages that appear to come from you

If Money Was Sent

Contact your bank or payment provider immediately — wire transfers and some payment methods have a short window during which a transaction can potentially be recalled or flagged. The faster you report it, the higher the chance of any recovery. Also file a report with your national financial fraud or cybercrime authority; even if money isn't recovered, the report helps track and potentially prosecute the attacker.

Don't Let Embarrassment Slow You Down