Answering a scam call is not a disaster by itself. What matters is what happened next: did you give information, give access to your device, or send money? Hang up, then follow the steps below for your situation. The US and Mexico have different agencies and different phone numbers, so the checklists are kept apart.
What should everyone do first?
- Hang up. The FTC says that if a recorded message is selling something, hang up and don’t press buttons to speak to someone or be removed from a list, because that probably leads to more calls.
- Don’t call back the number that called you, or any number the caller gave you. Look up the real organization’s number yourself. The FTC advises not to trust the caller ID, because scammers can fake it.
- Don’t be rushed. The FTC lists pressure to act immediately as one of four signs of a scam.
- Tell someone you trust. The FTC says talking about it may help you realize it was a scam.
- Write down what you remember: the number on your screen, the date and time, what they asked for, and anything you gave. You will need it for any report.
If you are in the US, what should you do?
The steps depend on what you shared. They come from the FTC’s page on what to do if you were scammed.
If you only answered and gave nothing: you have nothing to undo. You can report the call at DoNotCall.gov, including your number, the number on your caller ID, any number you were told to call back, and the date and time.
If you paid: contact the company you paid through right away and ask to reverse it.
| You paid with | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Zelle or a bank transfer | Your bank or credit union |
| A payment app (Venmo, Cash App, PayPal) | The payment app |
| A wire transfer company | The wire company |
| A credit or debit card | Your card issuer, using the number on the card |
| A gift card | The gift card issuer; keep the card and receipt |
| Cryptocurrency | The exchange or ATM operator; the FTC says it can be hard to get money back |
| Cash by US mail | The US Postal Inspection Service, 1-877-876-2455 |
If you gave your Social Security number: go to IdentityTheft.gov to report it and get a recovery plan if it was used. If you’re not sure, use IdentityTheft.gov/databreach.
If you gave an account password: change it, and anywhere else you use it, and turn on two-factor authentication. If you can’t log in, the FTC has a page on getting back into a hacked account.
If you gave a scammer access to your computer or phone: update your security software, run a scan, change your passwords and turn on two-factor authentication.
Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov if you lost money or have details about the scammer. The FTC says it uses reports to build cases and spot trends.
If you are in Mexico, what should you do?
These steps come from CONDUSEF and the national emergency and reporting lines.
- Check the number. CONDUSEF’s tool, Consulta y reporte de números sospechosos, lets you search a number and report it.
- If you gave card data, a PIN or a token code, or see charges you don’t recognize, follow CONDUSEF’s page on unrecognized charges: call your bank, report the charges and cancel the card. File a complaint at the bank’s UNE and keep the receipt with its folio number. CONDUSEF says banks should generally credit the amount back about 48 hours later while they investigate for up to 45 days. Its stolen card page says you have up to 90 calendar days to complain.
- Call your bank directly, never through a number given by the caller. CONDUSEF says to call the institution yourself to check the story.
- Orientation: CONDUSEF’s contact center is 55 53 400 999.
- If the call was a threat or extortion, the national anonymous line 089 takes reports. The government says it runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and operators do not ask for your personal data. For a real emergency where someone is at risk, 911 is the emergency number. The Guardia Nacional’s citizen line is 088.
REPEP, the advertising registry, does not take complaints about fraud or extortion. See what it covers.
What can you do so it is harder next time?
- Know the four signs of a scam: pretending to be an organization you know, a problem or prize, pressure to act now, and a demand for payment in a specific way.
- In the US, the Do Not Call Registry cuts honest sales calls but not scammers.
- In Mexico, banks never ask for card numbers or PINs by phone when you didn’t start the operation, according to CONDUSEF.
Advice from the FTC, CONDUSEF and SSPC pages linked above, read on 2026-10-08. This is general information, not legal advice. If someone is in danger, call the emergency number for your country.
