Very little about a fraud case is decided in court, and a great deal of it is decided in the two days after the money moves. That is the window in which access can still be closed off, in which the paper trail is still complete, and in which a bank still treats the matter as live rather than historic. What follows is the order that tends to matter, not a list of everything possible.
1. Secure your accounts first
Before anything else, stop the bleeding. Change the passwords on your email, banking and any accounts you used with the platform, and turn on two-factor authentication. If you shared card details or installed a "support" or remote-access app at anyone's request, remove it and contact your bank immediately to flag the card and block further transactions.
2. Document everything
Evidence is what any dispute is built on, so gather it while it is fresh:
- Bank and card statements showing the transactions, with dates and amounts.
- Screenshots of the platform or "dashboard", the website address, and any account or transaction IDs.
- Emails, chat logs and phone numbers — every message you exchanged with the people involved.
- A short written timeline of what happened, in order. This one page will save you hours later.
3. Report it on time
Notify your bank or payment provider as soon as you can, and keep the reference number they give you. Card and bank dispute windows are limited, and acting quickly keeps more paths open. If the loss is significant, report it to the relevant authorities as well.
Finally, be cautious with anyone who contacts you promising to get your money back for an upfront fee, or who asks for cryptocurrency, wallet keys or an "unlock" payment — that is a hallmark of a second scam, not a solution.
Where a report goes in South Africa
A case number matters more than most people expect: banks and payment providers routinely ask whether the matter has been reported before they escalate it. In South Africa that means opening a case with the South African Police Service, and, where an investment product or a financial services provider is involved, raising it with the Financial Sector Conduct Authority as well. If your bank rejects a complaint outright, the National Financial Ombud Scheme exists precisely for that deadlock.
