Someone is on the line or on my screen right now

If they can see your screen, they can see this page. Read it on your phone, or write the steps down first.

If it’s happening now

On the phone or a video call. Hang up. You don’t owe them a reason, and you don’t need to work out first whether they’re real. Caller ID, a familiar voice, a face on video, a badge number, or them knowing your details proves nothing. To check, call a number you already have: the back of your card, your statement, or a website you type in yourself. Not a number they gave you.

In a text, chat, or social app. Stop replying. Don’t tap a link or call a number in it. Screenshot their messages and their name, number, or profile, but not any photo of you. Once that’s saved, block and report them in the app. If they’re threatening to share photos of you, go to Someone is threatening to share photos of me.

On your computer. Press and hold the power button until the screen goes dark, then let go. It can take up to 10 seconds. On a Mac laptop, hold the Touch ID button, the top-right key. Don’t close anything first or wait for them to finish. Not sure they’re still connected? Turn it off anyway. If it won’t go off, unplug your internet box (the modem or Wi-Fi router) from the wall. Use your phone or another device from here, and leave the computer off.

A warning with a phone number filled your screen. Don’t call it. Turn the computer off the same way. Real security warnings never ask you to call a number. More: A pop-up or call says your computer has a problem.

They can see or control your phone. End the call. If they had you install an app so they could “help,” turn the phone off and call your bank from another phone. Borrow one if you have to.

At the bank, a store, or a Bitcoin ATM with them on the line. Hang up before you withdraw, buy, or hand over anything. If you already put money in, keep the receipt. Then tell the teller or cashier what the caller told you to do. If they gave you a story to tell at the counter, that’s part of the scam.

Someone is at your door, or on the way, to pick up cash, gold, or your card. Don’t open the door. Don’t hand anything over. Call 911. No real bank, agency, or company sends a courier for cash, gold, or your card.

It’s happening to someone you love. Someone I love is being scammed right now.

What to say

• I'm hanging up now. I'll call back on a number I already have.

• Someone on the phone told me to take this money out and told me what to say to you. I think it's a scam. Can you help me check?

• Someone's on their way to my house to pick up cash for a phone scammer. I haven't handed anything over.

• A scammer had control of my computer while I was on the phone with them. Can you check for anything pending, lock my online banking, and give me a case number?

When they’re gone

They got nothing from you. You’re done. They may call back from another number, or as a supervisor, a federal agent, or someone offering help. Same move.

Money moved, or you bought gift cards or crypto for them. Call now, ask them to stop or reverse it, and get a case number. Bank: the number on your card or in its app. Gift cards: the number on the back of the card; keep the card and receipt. Bitcoin ATM: the number on the machine or your receipt. Payment app or money transfer service: its own app or your receipt, not a number from a search. If you sent it yourself, they may call it authorized and say no. What to do then: I paid or sent money.

You handed over or mailed cash, gold, or your card. If it was your card, call your bank now to cancel it. The number is on your statement or in the app. Then: I handed over or mailed cash, gold, or a card.

You read them a code, or gave a password or card number. If it was for your bank or a card, call the number on your card first. Then: I gave out a code, password, or card number.

They were on your computer or phone. From another device, call your bank and tell them someone had control of your computer. Change your email and bank passwords from a device they never touched. Keep the computer off until you’ve read I let someone control my computer.

If money left by wire or crypto, file at ic3.gov at the same time as the bank call. Once those calls are made, save the screenshots, call log, and receipts (Save evidence without spiraling) and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Anyone who contacts you later offering to get your money back for a fee, including someone who says they’re with the FBI, IC3, the FTC, or a law firm, is running a second scam. Someone offers to get my money back.

If you’re 60 or older, or helping someone who is, the National Elder Fraud Hotline assigns a case manager who stays your contact through the reports. Scammers have used the hotline’s name, so call it yourself at this number.

AARP’s helpline helps you work out next steps. It doesn’t investigate or recover money.

What it looks like

11:40 a.m. You've been on this call for 20 minutes. The number on your screen is the one on the back of your debit card.

(312) 555-0136

Incoming call · 11:40 AM

1. Caller This is Mark with Fernmont Bank fraud prevention. Just so you know, this line is being recorded for your protection.
2. Caller I've stopped one transfer. A second one, $4,800 to an account we don't recognize, is still pending.
3. You I'd like to hang up and call the number on my card.
4. Caller Please don't hang up. If this call disconnects, the case closes and that transfer goes through. I'm the one holding it.
5. Caller Look at your caller ID. That's our number.

He says $4,800 leaves your account if the call ends. What do you do?

• Stay on until he confirms the transfer is stopped
• Hang up and call the number on the back of your card
• Ask for his employee ID and a direct number, then hang up and call him back
• Keep him on the line and call the bank from another phone

Show the answers

• Wrong move Stay on until he confirms the transfer is stopped A hold sits on your account, not on a phone call. If a transfer really is pending, the fraud team at the number on your card can see it and stop it. Next he'll ask for a code, a transfer, or a cash withdrawal.
• Best move Hang up and call the number on the back of your card Caller ID can show your bank's real number when someone else is calling. When you dial the number on your card, you know who answers. Hanging up doesn't release a real hold or close a real case.
• Wrong move Ask for his employee ID and a direct number, then hang up and call him back Any number he gives you rings him. You have no way to check an employee ID.
• Okay Keep him on the line and call the bank from another phone You'll reach your real bank. But he's still on the line while you talk to them, and he can hear what you say. Hang up first. You lose nothing.

Banks record calls too, and they do sometimes call about fraud. Neither makes hanging up risky. Hang up and call the number on your card.

What they’ll say to keep you on the line

Each of these is the scam. The move doesn’t change: hang up, or turn the computer off.

“Don’t hang up. If this call drops, the case closes.” A real hold or case sits on your account, not on the call.

“Hang up and you’ll be arrested.” Police don’t call to threaten arrest if you hang up, and they don’t call to collect fines by gift card, crypto, cash, payment app, or wire.

“Don’t tell anyone. Not your family, not the bank. They could be in on it.” “Only say what I tell you to say.” Tell the teller or someone you trust the truth. A teller can stop it.

“I’m transferring you to the Federal Reserve” (or the FTC, or a federal agent). Same scam, second voice.

“Read me the code we just texted you.” Don’t read or forward a code to anyone who contacted you.

“Go to a Bitcoin ATM.” “Buy gift cards and read me the numbers.” “Withdraw cash and buy gold.” “We’re sending a courier.” No real bank, agency, or company asks for any of these.