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What to do if you've been scammed

Dealing with a scam

This page sets out the key steps to take if you’ve been scammed, based on real consumer experiences. Acting quickly can help limit losses, protect your accounts and reduce the risk of further fraud. It explains who to contact, what evidence to keep and how your bank or card provider may be able to help.

You’ll also find information on reporting scams and on your rights under the EU Digital Services Act if the scam involved an online platform or advertisement.

The steps to follow if you have been scammed

Being scammed can feel overwhelming, but following these steps will help you take control and reduce the damage.

Step 1: Stop contact immediately

Step 2: Contact your bank or card provider

  • Call your bank or card provider as soon as possible
  • Ask about a chargeback or reversal of the payment
  • If you paid by credit card, you may have stronger protection than with debit cards or bank transfers
  • Cancel or replace your card if you notice suspicious activity

Case study

A consumer ordered a shoulder brace online, paying €30 by debit card. He realised the transaction was a scam about five days later when the brace hadn’t arrived and his bank notified him that the same business took a further €46.15 from his account.

The bank blocked the card to prevent further transactions. After contacting the CCPC, the consumer reported the scam to An Garda Síochána but was still awaiting a response at the time of the phone interview.

He also contacted his bank, which reversed the second deduction (€46.15), knowing the consumer hadn’t authorised it. At the time of the interview, he had not received a refund of the first €30.

On reflection, the consumer suspected that the website and photos didn’t look quite right. After the second payment was taken from his card, he found online reviews from others who had the same experience.

He said that he would have known the offer was a scam if he had checked the reviews first.

For more case studies, go to the CCPC’s Scams: Real cases, real consequences.

Step 3: Report the scam

  • Report the fraud to An Garda Síochána. Even if recovery is unlikely, reporting helps build evidence
  • Contact the CCPC Helpline for advice on your consumer rights and next steps
  • Platform reporting tools: If the scam came through an online ad or marketplace, report it directly to the platform

Step 4: Check your accounts and devices

  • Review recent transactions for unauthorised charges
  • Update passwords on your online accounts
  • Enable two-factor authentication where possible
  • Run a security check on your phone or computer if you clicked suspicious links

Understanding your rights under the Digital Services Act (DSA)

If you were scammed by an ad on a digital platform (like social media or an online marketplace), the Digital Services Act (DSA) gives you certain protections:

  • Right to complain: You can file a complaint directly with the platform if an ad was misleading or illegal
  • Transparency obligations: Platforms must clearly show who is behind ads and whether they are sponsored
  • Platform accountability: Platforms must act quickly to remove illegal ads once reported
  • Escalation routes: If the platform doesn’t respond, you can escalate to DSA regulators Coimisiún na Meán or the CCPC
  • Protection against manipulative ads: The Digital Services Act restricts harmful targeting practices, especially towards vulnerable groups

Steps to take if you’ve been scammed on an online platform

If you were scammed by a fake ad on social media, you can:

  1. Report the ad using the platform’s complaint tool
  2. Ask the platform to remove the ad and take action against the advertiser

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