Resources

We understand you may be experiencing hardship because of what happened to you. Individuals who experience financial crimes report having feelings of fear, shame, guilt, anger, betrayal, self-doubt, isolation, remorse, hopelessness, and loss of perceived reasons to live.

If any of these apply to you, know you are not alone, and help is available. We understand you may have questions about what services and information will be available to you moving forward.

While we empathize with you, unfortunately, the FBI cannot take on every complaint as an investigation. We also cannot provide status updates on complaints. If additional information is needed, someone will contact you. However, if you hear from someone claiming to be the FBI, please beware of fraudsters posing as government agents. Know that the FBI and other government agents will never ask for money, wire transfers, gift cards, fees, etc.

What Can I Do About My Financial Losses?

Collect and save all documents and electronic transmissions directly related to your loss, including expenses incurred during your participation in the investigation or prosecution. If an arrest is made and a conviction is obtained, the judge may require the offender to pay restitution. This means the sentencing judge may order a convicted defendant to pay identified victims for certain losses suffered as a result of the crime. You may be asked to provide verification of your loss amount.

In addition, some losses may be tax-deductible. Tax laws are complicated, so consult a qualified tax advisor or the Internal Revenue Service to see if your losses qualify.

There may also be federal or state agencies that have remission or compensation funds depending on the license of an individual or business that committed the fraud.

Finally, if you believe the fraud perpetrator had assets, you may be able to recover losses through a civil lawsuit. Contact your state or local bar association for the names of attorneys who specialize in this area of law to determine if your case is appropriate for civil action.

What Can I Do to Address Financial and Credit Problems?

Losses may be so severe that you are unable to meet current financial obligations. If personal information was stolen, credit may be affected which can impact your immediate financial situation. In both of these situations, consider these options:

• Contact creditors and/or a nonprofit credit counseling service to help you to reduce or modify your payments or help you to limit access to your accounts.
• Submit a written statement to local and national credit reporting agencies about your victimization. Provide supporting documentation such as a copy of the criminal judgment.
• Be alert. Fraud artists may contact you claiming they can help recover your losses for a fee or may sell your name to others committing financial scams. If called, contact the case agent or your state's Consumer Protection Agency to verify the company’s legitimacy.

What Can I Do to Protect Myself in the Future?

• Check your financial statements each month for any suspicious activity.
• Never send money to someone you do not know personally.
• Know that fraudsters often pose as interested romantic partners on the internet.
• Practice cyber security – use regularly updated security software, do not click on unverified links in emails or text messages, and update passwords regularly.
• Screen your phone calls using voicemail. You do not need to respond to everyone who calls.
• If something seems concerning to you or "too good to be true," consider the following actions:
  • Seek independent verification of the other party by contacting local law enforcement or a local FBI office.
  • Say 'no' to requests for money from unfamiliar or unverified sources
  • Terminate contact with the individual or company.
• If you suspect that you may have been a victim of financial fraud or exploitation, consider:
  • Contacting your financial institution immediately upon discovering any fraudulent or suspicious activity and direct them to stop or reverse the transactions.
  • Closing or canceling your account, or transferring funds to a new account.
  • Requesting free copies of your credit report from a credit bureau or freezing your credit.
  • Requesting copies of documents related to any potentially fraudulent activities.
  • Disputing fraudulent or inaccurate information on your credit report with one of the credit bureaus.

What Can I Do to Take Care of Myself?

You may feel anger, resentment, frustration, shame, embarrassment, and guilt, as well as fear for financial security and personal safety. Many find it helpful to seek services from a counselor, clergy member, or advocacy.

Ask for help from family, friends, or professionals when you need it. Healing trauma, grief, and loss is similar to healing your body after illness or an accident. Just as there are doctors and nurses who are trained to help heal the body, there are professionals who are trained to help people recover from loss and cope with emotional pain.