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What to do if you got scammed online

Updated September 30, 2026 · by the IsLegitOrNot team

If you paid a website that turned out to be a scam, act quickly. The sooner you contact your bank, the better your chance of getting the money back.

1. Contact your bank or card issuer today

Explain that you paid a fraudulent website and ask for a chargeback or a fraud claim. Card payments and PayPal have the strongest protection. Bank transfers are harder to recover, but banks can sometimes stop them if you call immediately.

2. Stop further payments

If you saved your card on the site or signed up for anything, ask your bank to block the card and issue a new one.

3. Collect evidence

Save the order confirmation, emails, screenshots of the product page and the website address. You will need them for the chargeback and any report.

4. Change passwords

If you created an account with a password you use elsewhere, change it everywhere. Turn on two-factor authentication for your email and bank.

5. Report the website

6. Warn others

Leave a review describing what happened. It helps the next person who searches for the site before paying.

7. Beware of recovery scams

After a scam, victims are often contacted by "recovery agents" promising to get the money back for a fee. These are scams too. Only deal with your bank and the official authorities.