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TOOL SUPPORT & SAFETY

I sent money to a scammer. What do I do now?

Act fast. In New Zealand, banks and payment providers have the best chance of stopping or recovering funds in the first hours. Even if you’re unsure it was a scam, treat this as urgent and follow the steps below.

Urgent steps (start here) Scan the message Report a scam

Do not pay more money to “unlock” or “refund” funds

Scammers often claim you must pay a fee, tax, or deposit to release your money. That is almost always a second scam. Stop contact and follow the steps below.

Quick check: how did you send the money?

Different payment types have different recovery options.

Bank transfer

Internet banking / transfer to another account.

Call your bank immediately.

Card payment

Debit/credit card, card details on a site.

Ask about chargeback + replace card.

Crypto / gift cards

Bitcoin/USDT, vouchers, gift card codes.

Hard to recover. Report fast.

Urgent steps (do these now)

Start with Step 1 and work down. Speed matters.

Step 01

Contact your bank or provider immediately

Call using the number on the back of your card, inside your banking app, or from the bank’s official website. Tell them it’s a scam and ask for urgent fraud action.

Ask for: transfer recall, card block/replacement, dispute/chargeback, account monitoring.
Step 02

Stop all contact with the scammer

Don’t negotiate. Don’t explain. Don’t send “one more payment” to fix it. Block numbers/accounts and stop replying.

Any “refund agent” who contacts you later is likely part of the scam.
Step 03

Save evidence before it disappears

Screenshot chats, receipts, bank references, and the scam website/page. Save phone numbers, email addresses, and any names used.

Evidence helps banks and authorities act faster.

Evidence checklist (quick)

Try to collect these items:

  • Date/time you paid and how much
  • Recipient details (bank account, payee name, wallet address, merchant name)
  • Transaction reference numbers / receipts
  • Messages/emails and the exact link used
  • Any bank screenshots showing the payment
Scan the scam message If you clicked a link

What to do by payment type

Follow the section that matches how you paid.

Bank transfer (NZ)

  • Call your bank ASAP and ask for a transfer recall / fraud team escalation.
  • Ask if they can place a hold or trace the transfer (time matters).
  • Change online banking password and enable extra security if offered.
  • Watch for follow-up scam calls claiming to be “bank investigators”.
Only call numbers you trust (card/app/official site).

Card payment

  • Ask your bank/provider about a chargeback or disputed transaction process.
  • Cancel and replace the card if details were entered on a scam page.
  • Turn on transaction alerts (SMS/app alerts).
  • If it was Apple Pay / Google Pay, ask what to do to secure your wallet tokens.
Also check if your email password needs changing.

Crypto / wallet transfers

  • If you used an exchange, contact them immediately with the transaction hash and wallet address.
  • Do not send more “fees” to unlock funds or withdraw.
  • Change exchange passwords and enable 2FA.
  • Report it — even if recovery is unlikely, it helps pattern tracking.
“Recovery agents” are commonly scams too.

Gift cards / vouchers

  • If you shared codes, contact the gift card provider immediately (they may freeze unused balance).
  • Save purchase receipts and card numbers.
  • Report the scam and keep evidence of where the codes were sent.
  • Don’t buy more cards to “verify” anything.
Speed matters — once redeemed, recovery is difficult.

Secure your accounts (after contacting your bank)

This reduces the chance of follow-up fraud or account takeover.

Secure your email first

Change your email password and enable 2FA. Email access can reset everything else.

Check “Sent” and “Forwarding” rules too.

Update key passwords

Banking, social, marketplace, and any account that shares the same password.

Use unique passwords going forward.
NEED TO CHECK THE MESSAGE?

Scan it to confirm the scam type.

KiwiScan can identify common NZ templates and tell you the safest next steps.

Open KiwiScan Tool Browse Scam Library

Quick answers

Common questions after sending money.

Is it too late to recover the money?

Not always. The first hours matter most. Contact your bank/provider immediately and provide evidence. Even if recovery is not possible, reporting helps stop further harm.

They’re threatening me or pressuring me to pay again. What do I do?

Stop contact and block them. Do not pay more money. Keep evidence of threats. If you feel unsafe, contact Police (111 for emergency).

Someone contacted me offering to recover my money for a fee. Is that legit?

Be extremely cautious. “Refund” or “recovery” services are commonly scams targeting victims again. Do not send money to strangers promising recovery.

Want to confirm what happened?

Scan the original message and KiwiScan will guide you.

SCAN NOW