Judgment
Updated 2026-09-29
A judgment is the court’s formal decision at the end of a case, or sometimes an application, stating which party succeeded and what remedy, such as damages, is granted, if any.
A judgment in a civil scam claim can order the defendant to pay a specific sum. However, obtaining a judgment does not automatically mean payment happens, since the defendant still has to actually pay, or the judgment must be enforced.
A judgment can be given after a full trial, or sometimes earlier if the defendant does not respond to the claim, known as a default judgment.
When it matters
Getting a judgment is often described as winning a case, but for a scam victim, the more practical question is usually what happens after: whether the sum can actually be collected.
Read next
APK scam: what to do right now
If you installed an app from a link and your phone or banking now looks wrong, here is what to do in the next few minutes to limit the damage.
Read thisBusiness email compromise: what to do
A supplier or director email asked you to pay a changed bank account. Here is how business email compromise works and the fastest response.
Read thisCrypto scam: what you can do
If a crypto exchange or wallet blocks your withdrawal after you met the operator on a chat app, here is how to trace what happened and what to do next.
Read thisWhat to do right after a scam
If you just realised you sent money to a scam, here is the order of first actions: stop paying, call your bank, call 997, and report it.
Read this