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If your child sent money to an online scammer, stop further contact and payments, reassure your child, and contact the company that moved the money immediately. Save the messages and transaction details before blocking the account. Whether the payment can be recovered depends in part on how it was sent and who actually initiated it; a scam or a child’s age does not automatically guarantee a refund. If the scammer is threatening your child—especially over intimate images—treat safety and reporting as urgent, not secondary to the money.
What should I do first?
Start calmly and privately. A child who expects blame may leave out important details, so make it clear that the priority is safety and figuring out what happened—not punishment. The FBI tells children and families affected by financially motivated sextortion: “You are not alone, and this is not your fault.” That reassurance applies in the context of exploitation and can help a child disclose a threat.
- Stop the conversation and any further payment. Tell your child not to reply, send more money, share another code, or follow new instructions from the scammer. Do not negotiate or pay a supposed fee to recover the first payment.
- Save evidence before blocking or reporting the account. Preserve the conversation, profile information, payment confirmation, and receipt. Capture relevant details such as the account handle, dates, amounts, and recipient information.
- Ask what happened without blame. Find out what the scammer said, how much was sent, whether there were repeat payments, whose account or card funded them, and whether your child or someone else initiated each transaction.
- Check for exposed access or personal information. Ask whether your child shared a password, one-time code, identification, or device access. This helps distinguish a payment the child made from a transfer a scammer may have initiated after gaining account access.
- Contact the payment provider immediately. Use a phone number, app, or support route you recognize independently—not contact details sent by the stranger. Explain the facts accurately and ask whether the payment can be stopped, reversed, refunded, or reviewed as a dispute. Request a case number and note the response.
A provider may not be able to reverse a completed payment, but the FTC advises contacting it promptly. Do not describe a payment as unauthorized merely because it was made under deception; who initiated the transfer and what authority they had can matter.
Who should I contact for each type of payment?
Contact the organization that handled the payment first. The right request depends on the payment method, and a request for a reversal is not a guarantee that the money can be recovered.
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| How the money was sent | Who to contact | What to ask or provide |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer or Zelle | The bank or credit union | Report the scam immediately and ask whether the transfer can be reversed. Explain who initiated it; a bank transfer is not automatically an unauthorized debit. |
| Payment app, such as Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal | The app through its current official support route; also the linked bank or card issuer when appropriate | Report the transaction in the app and request reversal or review. Do not use a support number supplied by the stranger. |
| Credit or debit card | The card issuer or bank | Explain whether your child made the payment or another person used the card. Ask about a refund or dispute; unauthorized-use protections are distinct from a promise to refund every purchase made after deception. |
| Wire transfer or bank wire | The sending institution or wire-transfer company | Describe the scam promptly and ask whether it can recall or refund the transfer. A recall is not assured. |
| Gift card | The gift-card issuer, using the number on the card | Report that the card number or PIN was used in a scam, ask about a refund, and keep the card and purchase receipt. |
| Cryptocurrency | The exchange or ATM operator involved | Ask whether anything can be stopped or reversed. The FTC cautions that recovery is difficult and cryptocurrency does not have the same protections as credit or debit cards. |
| Cash mailed to someone | The U.S. Postal Inspection Service or applicable carrier | Contact it promptly to ask about possible package interception. |
When an account or card was linked to an app, notify that institution as well if its funds or account may be affected. If you are unsure which provider handled a transaction, check the confirmation or account statement and contact the institution shown there.
Does “unauthorized” mean the same thing as “tricked into paying”?
No. For an electronic fund transfer, Regulation E’s unauthorized-transfer analysis focuses on who initiated the transfer and whether they had authority. A child who personally sends money after believing a false story presents a different factual question from a scammer who takes over an account and transfers funds.
The CFPB’s guidance explains that a scammer who obtains access credentials through deception and then initiates a transfer can meet the definition of an unauthorized transfer. By contrast, a payment the child personally approved may not qualify as unauthorized simply because the request was fraudulent. The facts and timeline matter: record what the child did, what the scammer did, which credentials were shared, and when access occurred.
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A parent-owned account does not become automatically unauthorized because a minor used it or exceeded a household spending limit. The CFPB’s official interpretation also addresses access granted to a family member who then exceeds instructions. Report the events truthfully and let the institution assess the claim under the applicable rules.
Qualifying unauthorized electronic transfers have investigation and liability rules, but those rules should not be assumed to cover every scam-induced payment. Do not promise that a bank will issue provisional credit or that a dispute will succeed. If a provider rejects a claim that you made as an unauthorized-transfer claim, the CFPB says you may request the information the provider used to make its decision.
What evidence should I keep, and where should I report the scam?
Keep an organized record before deleting messages, changing devices, or closing accounts. Save originals securely, even if you also make screenshots for quick reference.
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- Payment confirmations, transaction dates, amounts, recipient names or account details, and receipts.
- Chat history, emails, usernames or handles, profile links, and any phone numbers or addresses the scammer used.
- The name of each provider you contacted, the date and time, the case number, and what it said it could or could not do.
- A brief timeline that distinguishes what your child sent or approved from any transfer the scammer may have initiated.
Report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission through ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For cyber-enabled fraud, consider an FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) report. IC3 asks for transaction and suspected-offender details; retain original evidence securely. For crimes against children, IC3 directs families to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), so an IC3 complaint is not a substitute for a CyberTipline report when sexual exploitation is involved.
If a threat is immediate, contact emergency services or local police. Reports help authorities receive information about fraud, but they are not a guaranteed reimbursement channel; continue working directly with the payment provider about recovery.
What if the scammer is threatening my child or demanding intimate images?
Ask gently whether the payment followed a threat to expose private or sexual images. If it did, prioritize your child’s immediate safety and wellbeing, stop further payments, and preserve the messages and profile information. The FBI describes financially motivated sextortion in which a predator threatens to distribute images unless a child pays; it warns that some predators distribute images even after receiving payment.
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- Do not pay more or send additional images, personal information, or account codes.
- Save relevant messages and profile details, then report the account on the platform.
- Report child sexual exploitation to NCMEC’s CyberTipline and to law enforcement. Contact emergency services or local police if there is an immediate danger.
- Consider NCMEC’s free Take It Down service for nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit material taken when the person was under 18. It can help restrict sharing on participating public or unencrypted platforms.
Do not download, forward, or otherwise circulate an image to use Take It Down. A child should not be asked to resend or show an image to a stranger claiming to help. Keep the focus on safety and trusted support rather than recovering money first.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How do I secure accounts or devices the scammer may have accessed?
A payment alone does not establish that a device has malware or that an identity has been stolen. Take account or device steps that match what your child says they shared or what the transaction record shows.
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- If a password or code was shared: Change the affected password and any reused passwords, then enable two-factor authentication on sensitive accounts. Do not share new sign-in codes with anyone who contacts your child.
- If the scammer accessed a phone or computer: The FTC advises updating security software and scanning the device. If access to a financial account may have continued, tell the relevant institution and follow its account-security guidance.
- If identifying information was used to open an account: Use the child-specific recovery process at IdentityTheft.gov. The FTC has also published guidance on fraudulent accounts, checking a child’s credit report, and placing a freeze; use current official instructions rather than relying on old contact details.
A physical security key can be a later option for an account that supports key-based two-factor authentication, but it cannot reverse a payment. The FTC also describes non-key authentication choices; do not make a purchase a prerequisite to reporting fraud or securing an account.
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How can I help prevent a second loss?
Warn your child that someone may pose as a recovery agent or authority and ask for an upfront fee, account credentials, or sensitive information. Treat unsolicited recovery offers as a possible second scam, and do not send money to a person who claims a fee will guarantee a refund.
After the urgent steps are underway, talk through the warning signs without turning the discussion into a lecture. Unexpected requests, secrecy, pressure to act quickly, and demands for gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or app payments are reasons to pause and check with a trusted adult. The FTC’s parent guidance encourages children to stop and bring suspicious requests to a trusted adult. Agree on a simple rule: before sending money, sharing a code, or installing something at a stranger’s request, the child can ask you or another trusted adult for help without fear of blame.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file an IC3 complaint on my child’s behalf?
Yes. IC3 accepts reports filed on another person’s behalf. Its online form does not accept evidence attachments, so keep original messages and records securely and include the relevant transaction and suspected-offender details in the report.
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What should I do if the bank denies an unauthorized-transfer claim?
If you submitted an unauthorized-transfer claim and the provider rejects it, the CFPB says you can request the information the provider used to make its decision. Keep the response and case number with your timeline and any further correspondence.
Does a payment app’s dispute process replace contacting my bank?
Not necessarily. If a linked card or bank account funded the app payment, the FTC advises contacting that institution as appropriate as well as reporting the transaction through the app’s official support route.
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