Resources & updates
GCCI Blog
Practical guides, scam alerts, and resource updates to help cybercrime victims understand what is happening, take action, and find support.
They keep making new accounts to harass you
You block them and a new account appears the same day. How to document ban evasion, report it so it sticks, and what it takes to find who is behind it.
What to do about child identity theft
A bill or IRS letter arrived in your child's name. How to check for child identity theft, freeze a minor's credit, and report it.
Real estate wire fraud: what to do now
Your closing funds went to a fake escrow account. What to do in the first hours, who to call, and why speed decides whether the wire can be frozen.
Someone is using my photos to catfish people
Strangers say they have been talking to “you” online. How to get fake profiles using your photos taken down, and what to tell the people they fooled.
How to help a family member being scammed
You can see the scam and they can't. How to help a family member being scammed without pushing them away, and the steps that actually protect them.
Someone filed a tax return in your name: what to do
Your e-filed return was rejected as a duplicate, or an IRS letter arrived. How to report tax identity theft, file Form 14039, and protect your refund.
Someone is posting lies about you online: what to do
An anonymous account is spreading false claims about you. How to document it, get it removed, and what it takes to find out who is behind it.
How to remove your info from people-search sites
Your address and phone number are on dozens of people-search sites. How to get them removed, where to start, and what the new California DROP tool does.
How to tell if there is stalkerware on your phone
Someone seems to know where you are and what you say. How to tell if stalkerware is on your phone, and why safety planning comes before removing it.
Someone made fake nude images of you with AI
An app was used to make fake nude images of you. How to get AI deepfake images taken down within 48 hours, and where to report it.
Got a data breach notification letter? What to do
A company lost your data and sent a breach letter. What it means, whether to worry, and the practical steps that protect your accounts and identity.
What to do if your email account was hacked
Your email is the master key to your other accounts. How to recover a hacked email account, lock it down, and check what the intruder touched.
Is that “you won a prize” message a scam?
A call, text, or email says you won a lottery or prize but must pay a fee first. Why that fee is the scam, and what to do if you already paid.
Is that “I hacked your webcam” email real?
An email claims a hacker filmed you through your webcam and demands bitcoin, often citing an old password. Why it's almost always a bluff, and what to do.
What to do if your social media account was hacked
Locked out of Facebook or Instagram after a hack? How to recover your account, warn your contacts, and lock it down before more damage is done.
Financial sextortion of teens: what parents can do
Someone tricked your teen into sending an intimate photo and now demands money. What to do first, how to get it taken down, and why not to pay.
What to do if someone doxxed you
Someone posted your home address, phone number, or private details online. How to get doxxing content taken down, lock down your accounts, and report it.
Someone is impersonating you on social media
Someone set up a fake profile using your name and photos. How to report the impersonation, warn your contacts, and lock down your own accounts.
What to do if someone opened accounts in your name
You found a credit card or loan you never opened. How to freeze your credit, report the identity theft, and clean up accounts opened in your name.
What to do if you gave money to a fake charity
A cause tugged at you and you gave fast, and now something about the request feels off. How to spot a fake charity, and what to do if you already paid.
The fake virus pop-up scam: what to do next
A pop-up says your computer is infected and to call a number now. It's not a virus, it's a scam. What to do if you called, paid, or gave remote access.
Is that “I lost my phone” text really your kid?
A text claims to be your child with a new number, then asks for money fast. How the family emergency text scam works, and what to do if you already replied or paid.
Is this IRS back taxes call a scam?
A caller says you owe back taxes and an officer is on the way unless you pay right now. Why it’s always a scam, what to do on the call, and how to report it.
The car warranty robocall: how it works, what to do
A recorded voice says your car’s warranty is about to expire. How the scam actually works, what to do if you already paid, and how to stop the calls.
What to do if your mailed check was stolen and washed
A check you mailed cleared for a different name or amount. How check washing works, what to do with your bank today, and how to report the mail theft.
Is this package you didn’t order a brushing scam?
A box you never ordered showed up, maybe with a QR code inside. What a brushing scam means, why your address is on the list, and the few things worth doing about it.
Did you call a fake customer service number?
You searched for a support line, called the first number that came up, and the “agent” asked for a gift card or remote access. How the fake support number scam works and what to do now.
What to do if a scammer used you as a money mule
A “job” or online partner had you receive money and pass it along, and now your bank is asking questions. What being a money mule means, how to stop safely, and how to report it.
Is this Social Security suspension call a scam?
A caller says your Social Security number is suspended and you could be arrested unless you act now. Here’s why it’s always a scam, what to do on the call, and how to report it.
Did you read back a Google verification code?
A buyer asked you to read back a 6-digit Google code to prove you’re real. That’s the Google Voice verification code scam. Here’s how to reclaim your number and report it.
What to do if you bought fake concert tickets
The tickets never arrived, or the QR code turned red at the gate. Here’s how to dispute the payment, report the seller, and dodge the “refund agent” scam that follows.
Is this utility shut-off call a scam?
A caller says your power will be cut within the hour unless you pay right now by prepaid card or crypto ATM. Here’s why it’s a scam, what to do on the call, and how to report it.
What to do if you paid a deposit on a fake rental listing
The listing looked real, the landlord couldn’t meet in person, and the deposit is gone. Here’s how to challenge the payment, report it, and avoid the refund scam that follows.
What to do if you deposited a fake check
The bank showed the money as available, you sent a share back, and then the check bounced. Here’s why the balance looked real, what to do with your bank today, and how to report it.
Is this missed package delivery text a scam?
A text says your package is on hold until you confirm your address or pay a small redelivery fee. Here’s how the fake delivery text works, and what to do if you already tapped.
Is that celebrity investment video a deepfake scam?
A famous face is on camera promising guaranteed returns or a crypto giveaway. The face is real. The video isn’t. How to spot a deepfake investment scam and what to do if you paid.
What to do if your phone suddenly has no service
Your phone dropped to “No Service” and password reset emails started arriving. That can be a SIM swap. What to do in the first hour, which accounts to lock down first, and how to report it.
What to do when a scammer threatens to share your photos
Someone is demanding money and threatening to send your private photos to everyone you know. Don’t pay. What actually works: StopNCII, evidence, and reporting.
Is this bank fraud alert text a scam?
A text warns of suspicious activity on your account, then the “fraud department” calls. How the fake bank fraud alert works, and what to do if you answered.
What to do about the phantom hacker scam
A caller warns a foreign hacker is draining your accounts and says the only way to protect your money is to move it to a “safe account.” Why it’s a scam and what to do.
What to do after a gold bar courier scam
A caller convinced you to convert your savings into gold and hand it to a courier. Here’s what to do now: stop, report it, preserve evidence, and avoid the second scam.
What to do if you paid a deposit in a puppy scam
You found the perfect puppy online and paid a deposit, then the fees kept coming. Here’s how the puppy scam works, what to do if you already paid, and how to report it.
Is this jury duty warrant call a scam?
A caller says you missed jury duty and a warrant is out for your arrest unless you pay now. Here’s why it’s a scam, what to do on the call, and how to report it.
The fake CAPTCHA scam that hijacks your computer
A pop-up “verify you’re human” box tells you to press Windows+R and paste something. It’s not a CAPTCHA — those keystrokes install malware. How to spot it and what to do.
Is this “wrong number” text the start of a scam?
A stranger texts you by ‘accident,’ then keeps chatting. Here’s why wrong number texts aren’t misfires, what to do if you replied, and how a friendly conversation turns into a crypto investment scam.
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.