Someone you love was scammed. Here's how to help.
Take a breath. This happens to sharp, careful people every day. These are professional criminals running scripts refined on thousands of victims — being scammed is not a sign of decline or foolishness. Your job now is to support, not to take over.
Filing with the FBI is free. You do not need a lawyer, and you do not need us.
Anyone can file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) themselves, at no cost, at ic3.gov. You fill in what happened. No lawyer is required. No service has to do it for you.
If someone charges you a fee to file an IC3 report on your behalf, that is a scam. Filing is free, and it is yours to do.
PEGTrace does not file for you and does not charge to file. We compose evidence — we organize what happened into one verifiable record you can attach to the report you file yourself. That is a different job from filing, and it never replaces it.
If you do only one thing today, file at ic3.gov.
The most useful thing right now is the bank — not a conversation.
Dispute and recall windows are short. Come back for the harder part — how to talk about it — after the calls are made.
- Help them call their bank or card issuer. Use the number on the back of the card. They make the call — you take notes.
- Report at ic3.gov (FBI) and reportfraud.ftc.gov (FTC). Even if the money is gone, reporting builds the pattern that stops the criminals. ic3.gov · reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Do not send more money to "unlock," "release," or "recover" anything. That is the second wave of the same scam.
The conversation matters more than any tool.
This is the part almost no one gets right. Shame ends the conversation — and once someone stops talking about it, the next scam is easier, because they hide it. Lead with belief.
- Start by saying: "This happens to smart, careful people. These are professionals."
- Ask what they want to do. It is their money, their choice, and they are an adult.
- Listen first. Take notes. Details fade fast.
- Warn them about the second wave: anyone contacting them promising to recover the money — for a fee, in advance, or by asking for a seed phrase — is always another scam.
- If they aren't ready to act yet, leave the door open. Say you're there when they want to talk.
- Don't say "how could you fall for that" or "I told you." Shame ends the reporting.
- Don't decide for them. Don't call the bank on their behalf without their knowledge.
- Don't threaten to take away their independence. Fear of losing control is the #1 reason victims stay silent.
- Don't push. Pushing usually makes them hide the next incident.
- Don't imply cognitive decline. Being targeted is not proof of anything except that criminals are good at their job.
You're a second set of hands. They are still in charge.
- Call the bank together. They make the call. You take notes on names, times, case numbers, and what was promised.
- Sit with them while they file at ic3.gov and reportfraud.ftc.gov. Offer to read the form aloud if that helps. Let them type.
- Change passwords and turn on two-factor authentication — with their consent, on their accounts. Not from your device, unless they specifically ask.
- Stop contact with the scammer. Block the number, the email, the app. Do not reply, even to "tell them off" — it confirms the line still works.
- Write down what happened while it's fresh. PEGTrace's victim guide can help organize the timeline into a report they can share with authorities or an attorney.
Safety nets the account holder opts into.
These are things the older adult chooses for themselves. None of them give anyone else access to their accounts, and none of them are set up by PEGTrace.
- Ask their bank about a "trusted contact" on the account. Many banks (following FINRA guidance) let a customer designate someone the bank can call if a transaction looks unusual. The trusted contact does not get access, cannot see balances, and cannot move money. It is a safety net the account holder chooses.
- Ask about optional holds or delays on large or unusual transfers. Some banks offer this at the customer's request. It gives a moment to think before money moves.
- Agree on a family code word for emergency money requests. If "Grandma, it's me, I'm in jail" ever comes in, the real person can say the word. AI voice cloning defeats voice recognition; a private word does not.
- "Let me think about it and call you back" is a complete sentence. Real institutions never rush you. A pause defeats most scams.
This section is for you.
You were targeted by a professional. That is not a character flaw. These scripts are refined on thousands of people, and they work on doctors, engineers, retired investigators, and career prosecutors. You are in good company.
Telling someone does not mean losing control of your money. You are an adult; your family cannot take over your accounts because you were scammed. Talking about it makes the next attempt easier to spot — nothing more.
Reporting helps, even if the money is gone. Every report builds the pattern that shuts these operations down and warns the next person.
Anyone contacting you now offering to recover your money — for a fee, in advance, or by asking for your seed phrase or login — is a scam. Every single time. There is no exception.
What PEGTrace does and does not do.
- Help victims write down what happened in a clear, organized way.
- Trace crypto movement across public blockchains and package the on-chain evidence.
- Route reports to IC3, FTC, and — with the victim's consent — an attorney or investigator they choose.
- Provide education, in English and Spanish, on how these scams work.
- We do not recover funds. Anyone who promises to is running the recovery scam.
- We do not identify "the criminal." Naming a wallet's owner requires a subpoena to the receiving exchange by law enforcement.
- We do not monitor anyone's accounts and do not send alerts to family members.
- We do not act on anyone's behalf. A family member cannot file, consent, or share on behalf of the actual victim.
Educational information, not legal or financial advice. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Working with victims and their families
If you support scam victims through a community organization, adult-protective services, elder-law practice, or victim-advocacy program, request an information packet.
Scaffolded contact form. We do not currently store this email — submissions open your mail client so you can send directly to support@pegtrace.com. No newsletter, no marketing list.
Learn about PEGTrace pilots for institutions, counsel, and law enforcement
PEGTrace is an evidence and case-management tool for financial institutions, legal counsel (plaintiff and defense), and law enforcement. These pages are public awareness resources. If you evaluate fraud tooling for an institution, a law firm, or an investigative unit, we would like to talk.