If you have lost money as part of an online scam or wider cybercrime then this guide can help. You may have been tricked into sending money to a criminals account, a criminal may have logged into your online banking and tricked you into enabling payments, you may have been tricked into putting money into a scam investment or been sending money to a romance scammer (catfish). Regardless of how they money was stolen, follow the steps below. 

1. Report it to the police - It is important that you report the issue to the police ASAP. You will need a crime number from the police to help you work with your bank and other organisations. With the majority of online scams and cyber crimes you report to Action Fraud. Reporting will also help get the scam shut down and may help you progress getting your money back. 

2. Contact your bank - You also need to contact the financial organisations involved in making the payments immediately. If it was your bank account then contact your bank and explain what has happened. If you know which bank the money was send to you should also contact them. If this is done quick enough they may be able to freeze the money if it is still in transit and both should kick off a fraud investigation. 

3. Beware recovery scams - after stealing money it is common for criminals to contact their victims pretending to be their bank, the police or money recovery experts. The aim is to steal more money by asking you to move money into a “safe” account or trick you into sharing information that will enable a further crime. Do not trust any communications by phone, email or text. Instead call the organisation directly and check that it was really them that tried to get in touch. 

Source and author: thecyberhelpline.com

Link: https://www.thecyberhelpline.com/guides/money-recovery