Clicked a suspicious link, shared a password or sent money before realizing the message was a scam? Scam recovery starts with identifying what you gave away. Acting quickly may help limit the damage, though no recovery is guaranteed.
Avon’s recent scam-awareness session urged residents to pause, verify and act. That advice also applies after an incident: stop communicating with the sender and use a phone number or website you found independently. See the town’s scam-awareness notice.
Scam recovery if you clicked but shared nothing
Close the page. Do not enter information, download a file or call a number shown there. If a download started or you allowed remote access, follow the device steps below. The FTC’s phishing guide explains how to report a suspicious message. If you entered a password, follow the account steps below even if no money moved.
If you sent money or payment details
Contact the bank, card issuer, payment app or gift-card company right away through its official app, website or the number on your card. Tell it the transaction involved a scam and ask whether it can reverse the payment or refund you. The Federal Trade Commission’s recovery guide has steps for different payment methods, including transfers, cards, apps and gift cards. Keep receipts and transaction records.
If you shared a password or personal information
Change the affected account’s password. If you reused it elsewhere, change those passwords too, and enable two-factor authentication. If someone took control of an account, use the service’s official account-recovery process. If you shared a Social Security number, use IdentityTheft.gov for a situation-specific plan. The FTC distinguishes between confirmed misuse and exposure that has not yet led to misuse.
If someone accessed your device
Update security software and run a scan. Remove anything it identifies as a problem, then change account passwords and turn on two-factor authentication. If you need help with the device, contact its manufacturer or a company you already know and trust. Avoid hiring a stranger who contacts you offering to recover the money or fix the device.
Scam recovery: report and keep a record
Save the message, sender information and payment details without clicking its links again. Report the incident at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC warns that people who have already lost money may face a second scam from someone promising to get it back for a fee.
For a local police report, the Avon Police Department directory lists 970-748-4040 as its nonemergency number. Call 911 for an immediate emergency. If you have only received a suspicious message and have not acted on it, read our Avon scam-prevention guide before responding.
Featured image: AI-generated editorial illustration; it does not depict a real scam incident. Sources checked Oct. 24, 2026.
