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Over the years, clients of mine have been scammed. Though the facts varied, they all usually had three things in common. They were afraid, ashamed AND they waited too long before seeking help. Often the scammers convinced them not to tell anyone so by the time they realized they were being scammed, the scammers were long gone. Feelings of shame and embarrassment then took over. I was hacked once when I was working on my computer and all of a sudden, there was a loud siren-like shrill noise coming out of my computer and a screen came on saying my computer had been hacked and instructions appeared with a certain number I was to call to pay a large amount of money in order to restore the use of my computer. I knew I was not going to call that number but I could not get the loud noise to stop or figure out how to get the use of my computer back. I finally did get the help of an IT person and it was a simple fix that I would never have figured out on my own. BUT I really did know the terror victims must feel in those first moments. And that is the point..what you do in those first moments means everything. Realize right from the start that however this happened, you need help from someone other than who has contacted you telling you to give them money..because anyone who has contacted you in that way, is likely a scammer. So if it happens to you, take a breath, call your financial institution, or your credit card company, a family member, an IT person or a friend but take no action that causes you to give up your money, your credit card or bank accounts. Get help before you do anything else.