In 2025, the FTC received reports of the largest losses ($4 billion+) to scams where people paid with bank transfers and cryptocurrency. While the details of the scam change, scammers ALWAYS ask you to pay in ways that make it difficult to get your money back. Here’s how to protect yourself and your money:
* Never send money to anyone who says you can only pay with a specific payment method.
* Pay by credit card whenever possible. If there’s a problem, you can dispute the charge with your credit card company.
* Research the business or person before you pay them.
* Don’t delay if you paid a scammer. Immediately contact the company you used to send money and tell them it was fraud.
If you know someone who has been scammed, report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI at ic3.gov.
