The first week after a scam

Where you should be by now

By a week in, the urgent calls should already be behind you: your bank, the National Scam Response Centre on 997, and a police report. If any of these are still missing, the first actions after a scam still apply and are worth doing now.

If those steps are done, this week is about following up rather than starting new things. A quiet week from your bank does not always mean nothing is happening.

Use this time to keep your records organised, since a clear file speeds up every conversation that follows.

Follow up on your bank case

Call your bank back if you have not heard anything in a few days, and ask for a written update rather than a verbal one. Reference your earlier report number so the call centre can find your case quickly.

Ask specifically whether a recall was sent, whether the receiving account has been checked, and what the next update will cover. Read how a bank recall works again if the answer you get does not match what you expected.

If your bank has closed the case without a result, ask for the reason in writing before deciding your next move.

Decide whether a claim is worth exploring

A week in is a reasonable point to start asking whether a civil claim fits your situation. This depends mainly on the amount involved and whether the receiving account or person can be identified.

Read whether legal action is worth it for an honest look at what this involves before you spend anything. A short conversation can clarify whether this route fits your case at all.

This is also a good time to make sure your police report reference is saved somewhere safe, since it supports any claim later.

Watch for fake recovery offers

A week or two after a scam is when a second wave of offers can appear: someone claiming they can trace or return the funds for a fee paid upfront. This targets people who are still hoping and watching for good news.

No lawyer or agency can promise how a case will end, so treat any confident promise of a result as a warning sign rather than reassurance. Verify who you are speaking to before sending anything further.

If you are unsure whether an offer is genuine, it is worth checking before you respond to it at all.

What to do next

Keep a simple log of every call, reference number, and reply you receive from this point on, since it becomes useful if the case runs longer. A week usually marks the start of a longer process, not the end of one.

If you want a clearer picture of what typically happens from here, the recovery routes available lay out the options in plain terms.