Resources & updates
GCCI Blog
Practical guides, scam alerts, and resource updates to help cybercrime victims understand what is happening, take action, and find support.
How to tell if a romance scammer is using AI
The messages never slow down and always circle back to a crypto platform. Here’s how to tell if a romance scammer is using AI in 2026, the tells that still slip through, and what to do if you already sent money.
What to do when you reported a scam and no one responded
You reported the scam to your bank and to law enforcement, and heard nothing back. Here’s why the silence isn’t the end, how to push the bank again, and what can still be traced.
How do pig butchering scams actually work?
You met someone online, watched fake profits climb, and kept depositing. Here’s how a pig butchering scam actually works, how the crypto moves, the 2026 AI twist, and whether it can be traced.
What to do if you sent money to a romance scammer
You met someone online and sent them money, and now you have doubts. Here’s what to do: dispute or recall the payment, trace the funds, report it, and avoid the recovery scam that comes next.
What to do if you paid into a task scam to get your earnings
The app showed your balance climbing, then asked you to deposit your own money to withdraw it. Here’s what to do after a task scam, how to dispute the payment, and what can still be traced.
What to do if you scanned a scam QR code
You scanned a fake code on a parking meter, menu, or email and typed in your details. Here’s what to do now: lock the card, reset logins, and report it.
What to do in the first 24 hours after a crypto scam
The money left hours ago and the next day is a blur. Here’s what to do first: stop paying, save the evidence, report it, and give the trace a chance.
Can a crypto scam be reversed?
You can’t reverse a crypto payment the way you’d dispute a card charge. Here’s why, what tracing can still do, and the fast moves that matter most.
How much does it cost to trace stolen crypto?
Before you pay anyone to follow your stolen crypto, here’s what real tracing costs, the pricing models to expect, and the one upfront fee that means it’s a recovery scam.
What do I do if the police can’t get my bitcoin back from a scammer?
Your local police said there’s nothing they can do. Here’s why that happens, what still works after they close the door, and how the money can be traced even when an officer can’t.
What to do if you gave a scammer remote access to your computer
You let someone remote into your machine and now you’re not sure what they took. Here’s what to do first, how to lock things down, and the follow-up “phantom hacker” call to watch for.
How to find a scammer’s identity
You can search the photos and the phone number yourself, but a scammer’s real name lives in payment and platform records. Here’s what you can find on your own, and what it takes to get the rest.
How do I get my money back after a pig butchering scam?
The platform was fake and the person who walked you into it is gone. Here’s where to report first, what can still be traced, and how to dodge the recovery scam that comes next.
Is the “your grandchild is in jail” phone call a scam?
A grandchild calls from jail needing bail money fast, and begs you not to tell their parents. Here’s how to tell if the call is a scam, what gives it away, and what to do before you pay.
How do I report a crypto scam and recover my money?
You sent the crypto and everyone went quiet. Here’s who to report a crypto scam to, what each agency actually does, and why reporting fast matters.
What to do if you sent money on Venmo to a scammer
The payment turned green and the other person went quiet. Here’s what helps in the first hour, when a Venmo payment can still be canceled, and how to dodge the recovery scam that follows.
What to do if you deposited cash in a Bitcoin ATM for a scammer
A caller walked you to a crypto kiosk and you fed the cash in. Here’s what helps in the first hour, where the money goes, and when tracing a Bitcoin ATM scam is worth it.
What are the chances of getting your money back after a crypto scam?
You sent the crypto and the platform went quiet. Here’s an honest answer on your real odds, what moves them up, and when a paid trace is actually worth it.
What to do if you wired money to a scammer
The wire cleared and the bank is closed. Here’s what to do in the first hours, when a wire recall is still possible, and how to avoid the recovery scam that follows.
What to do if a crypto investment platform won’t let you withdraw
The dashboard shows a balance, then asks for a tax or fee before you can withdraw. Here’s why that fee is the scam, what to do first, and whether money lost to an unregulated broker can be traced.
Is that crypto recovery service legit, or another scam?
An account on Telegram says it can get your stolen crypto back. Here’s the one red flag that tells you it’s a second scam, what real tracing can and can’t do, and how to vet anyone before you pay.
What to do if you sent money to a scammer on Zelle
You sent the payment and it cleared in seconds. Here’s what to do in the first hour, when your bank may have to refund you, and how to dispute and escalate a Zelle scam.
How to trace a scammer’s crypto wallet
Crypto payments don’t reverse, but they leave a public trail. Here’s what tracing a scammer’s wallet actually shows, what it can’t do, and when it’s worth bringing in an investigator.
What to do if you sent money to an AI voice cloning scam
You heard their voice and sent the money before you could think. Here’s what to do in the first 48 hours, and how to spot the recovery scam that comes next.
Is this ‘You’re invited’ party invitation text a scam?
A text or email says you’re invited and wants you to log in to see the details. The party is the bait. Here’s how to spot the fake and what to do if you already signed in.
How to tell if a Facebook Marketplace seller is a scammer
The red flags that show up before the money moves, what to check on the seller’s profile, and what to do if you already paid a deposit.
What to do if you sent money on Cash App to a scammer
You hit send and now the payment sits in your activity. Here’s what actually moves the needle in the first hour, the first day, and after, when a Cash App transfer turns out to be a scam.
Is this Geek Squad renewal email a scam?
A clean-looking $349 invoice lands in your inbox. You never signed up. The email itself isn’t the trap. The phone number on it is.
What to do if you sent Apple gift cards to a scammer
You sent the codes. Now your stomach’s in your throat and you’re checking your phone. Here’s what actually moves the needle in the first hour, the first day, and after.
How to spot the fake 'unpaid toll' or DMV text scam
An unpaid toll text says you owe $6.99 by tomorrow. A fake DMV text says your license is about to be suspended. Here's how to spot both, and what to do if you've already tapped the link.
Why didn’t the FBI investigate my crypto scam?
Federal agencies have an unspoken case-acceptance threshold for crypto fraud. Here’s why your case may not get worked, why recovery agents are scams, and what your real options are.
The fake job offer that starts with a text
A friendly recruiter texts you out of the blue with a flexible remote job. Here’s how the task scam works, and what to do if you’ve already replied.
How to Preserve Evidence in the First 24 Hours
What to capture, how to capture it, and what not to do in the first day after realizing something went wrong.
Welcome to the GCCI Blog
A short introduction to what this blog will cover, who it’s for, and how it can help if you’re dealing with cybercrime.