Secure
Change any password you gave away or reused. Sign out other sessions and turn on multi-factor authentication from the real provider site.
Free response plan · no login required
If a scam is happening now
You do not have to solve everything at once. This plan helps you stop the pressure, protect access, and reach the real institution through a trusted channel.
Right now
Stop the next harmful step
- Stop replying, stop the payment, and do not click another link or install software.
- Tell the person you trust that you may be dealing with a scam; do not handle pressure alone.
- Use a trusted device or the number on your card or official statement to contact the bank, card issuer, or provider.
Next hour
Protect the accounts and money connected to the event
Contact
Explain that you suspect a scam and ask what protective, dispute, transfer, or account-lock options are available. The institution decides what it can do.
Preserve
Keep screenshots, numbers, usernames, receipts, transaction IDs, dates, and the exact wording. Do not edit the original evidence.
What to say
A script for the real institution
Do not include full account numbers, passwords, PINs, or one-time codes in GuardianLight.
I believe I may have been targeted by a scam. A payment or account action happened on [date] for approximately [amount]. Please tell me what protective or dispute options are available and what information you need from me through this secure channel.
Common version
Someone claims to be your bank, police, or technical support
End the contact and call the organization using a number you find independently. Caller ID, a familiar logo, a local-looking number, and a person who knows some of your details do not prove the contact is real. Legitimate staff can wait while you verify.
Recovery warning: anyone who promises to recover your money for an upfront fee, gift card, crypto payment, or remote access may be running a second scam.
Over the next few days
Keep watching for follow-up harm
- Review account alerts and statements through trusted channels.
- Warn contacts if your email or social account may have been accessed.
- Use the official reporting links on the Training page.
- Write a short timeline while details are fresh.
What GuardianLight can and cannot do
GuardianLight provides free information and checklists. It cannot freeze accounts, reverse payments, identify a criminal with certainty, contact an institution, or guarantee recovery. Use the official institution’s process for decisions about your account.