Getting scammed by AI is one of the most violating experiences online. A voice that sounded exactly like your daughter. An email that read like it came from your boss. A video of a person who never existed. But you’re not powerless. Here is your exact recovery plan.
Immediate Actions (First 24 Hours)
If You Sent Money
- Call your bank immediately. Not email — call. Same-day reporting dramatically increases recovery.
- For credit cards: Dispute the charge. 90-day window for Visa/Mastercard.
- For crypto: Contact the exchange (Coinbase, Shakepay) immediately.
If You Shared Personal Information
- Change passwords now — email first
- Enable 2FA on every account
- Freeze your credit
- Check for email forwarding rules
Build Your Evidence File
- Screenshot messages, call logs, transactions
- Note dates, times, phone/email/wallet addresses
- Save transaction IDs and confirmation numbers
Report the Scam
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1-888-495-8501
- Local police with your evidence file
- FBI IC3 (ic3.gov) for cross-border cases
- CRA: 1-800-959-8281 if SIN compromised
Ongoing Protection
- Check credit report monthly for 6+ months
- Place a 6-year fraud alert on your credit file
- Review bank statements weekly
- Consider data broker removal
Watch for Follow-Up Scams
Victim lists are traded. Be suspicious of anyone offering recovery services — legitimate help comes through government agencies, not cold messages.
You are not stupid. Professionals designed these tools to bypass human defenses. Report, recover, and help protect others.