Document every payment and how you sent it

    Payment recovery depends entirely on the method — list each one with amounts and times.

    JDCS
    By Jordan Dickson · Reviewed by CSG Security Engineers

    Updated June 2026 · 1 min read

    Tech-support scams that end in payment are functionally App Scams — same recovery, different cover story. Document the payments first because each method has a short recovery window.

    Common payment methods

      • Gift cards (Apple, Google Play, Amazon) — report codes to the brand fast
      • Bank transfer / wire — call the bank fraud line for recall
      • Card payment — dispute as fraud (chargeback)
      • Crypto — report wallet to exchange and chainabuse.com

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    JD

    Written by

    Jordan Dickson

    Founder, CyberSecurityGuides

    Founder of CyberSecurityGuides, writing practical, jargon-free guides that help everyday people recover from and protect against online attacks.

    Reviewed by CSG Security Engineers

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    Document every payment and how you sent it | CyberSecurityGuides