Free printable guide
Scam Incident Response: Printable Checklist
A calm, factual handout for protecting accounts and preserving useful details after a suspicious call, message, payment, or request.
Open printable PDFWhy this matters
After a scam, people often feel embarrassed or rushed, and scammers count on both. Acting quickly and in the right order can protect accounts and sometimes stop a payment.
Adults 60 and older can call the National Elder Fraud Hotline, where a case manager helps with reporting and next steps. People who have lost money are often targeted again by fake “recovery” services, so knowing the official channels matters.
Inside the printable
What this guide helps you do
- Stopping contact and avoiding further payments
- Calling the bank or card company using a number you look up yourself
- Recording dates, contact details, and what was asked for, without writing down passwords or codes
- Reporting at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or IdentityTheft.gov
- Reaching the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311
- Spotting a second scam that offers to recover the money
Official contacts in this guide
Free public and nonprofit services. No affiliate links. Numbers checked September 2026; confirm hours on each official website.
- National Elder Fraud Hotline For adults 60 and older. 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311), Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern
- ReportFraud.ftc.gov Report a scam to the Federal Trade Commission
- IdentityTheft.gov Report identity theft and get a personal recovery plan
- Medicare 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048