Quick answers to the most common questions we get about AI scams and recovery.
Immediate Steps
I think I was just scammed. What do I do first?
Stop all contact with the scammer immediately, then document everything — screenshots, transaction IDs, chat logs, phone numbers, wallet addresses — before anything disappears. Then report it and contact your bank. Our I Was Scammed by AI guide walks you through the full first-hour, first-day, and first-week plan.
Where do I report an AI scam?
Report to the FTC, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), and your financial institution. Include screenshots, wallet addresses, phone numbers, and usernames. See our how to report an AI scam guide for the full list with links.
Can I get my money back?
It depends on how you paid and how fast you act — but the answer is sometimes yes. Chargebacks, wire recalls, and crypto tracing all have time windows that close quickly (most are 60–120 days). See our how to get money back guide.
Understanding the Scams
Can a scammer really clone someone’s voice?
Yes. Voice-cloning tools can build a convincing replica from just a few seconds of audio, easily harvested from social media or voicemail. This powers the grandparent scam, where a clone of a family member makes an urgent call for money. If you’ve been affected, see our voice cloning scam recovery guide.
How do AI romance scams work?
Fraudsters use AI chatbots (or AI-assisted scripts) to build a fake relationship over weeks, then introduce a fake investment platform or request money directly. Losing money this way is common and it is not your fault. See our AI romance scam recovery guide.
What is pig butchering?
Pig butchering is a long-game investment scam where the fraudster builds trust over weeks before introducing a fake crypto trading platform showing fabricated returns. Victims invest increasingly large sums before the platform vanishes. See our AI investment scam recovery guide.
What is a deepfake scam?
A deepfake uses AI to create realistic fake video or audio of a real person — a celebrity endorsing a fake investment, or a synthesized executive authorizing a wire transfer. See our deepfake video scam guide.
Emotional and Identity Recovery
I feel ashamed. Is that normal?
Yes, and you are not alone — 65% of victims don’t realize it was a scam until after the money is gone. Shame and self-blame are extremely common, but the scammer’s manipulation is the cause, not you. See our emotional recovery guide.
How do I protect myself from being targeted again?
Freeze your credit, set fraud alerts, change passwords to passkeys, and monitor your accounts. See our best identity protection guide for the full comparison.