Make Coinan independent reference on digital safety and online fraud

An independent reference on digital safety. Not affiliated with the former website on this domain; we do not sell or promise documents, diplomas or "earnings". This is not legal advice — if you have been defrauded, contact your bank and the police.

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting

When you are hacked or scammed, the key is not to lose time and not to panic. Many consequences can be limited if, in the first few hours, you block your card, change your passwords and keep the evidence. This section covers typical situations and the first steps in each. This is not legal advice: in complex cases, contact your bank, the police and a lawyer.

There is nothing to be ashamed of: scammers count on haste and trust, not on stupidity. The sooner you report what happened, the better the chance of limiting the damage.

— Editor's note

How this section works: we describe the first steps in general terms and do not promise you will get your money back. Check the exact procedure with your bank and the police directly. Never turn to people offering to "recover your money" for a fee: this is a common follow-up scam.

If something has happened

My email was hacked — what should I do?

Try to recover access through the service's official form, then change your password, turn on a second factor and check your forwarding settings and linked devices. After that, change the passwords on sites where you sign in with that email.

My game account was stolen — what should I do?

Contact the official support of the game or platform through their website, and provide details of your purchases and the linked email. Change your email password and turn on a second factor. Do not pay strangers who promise to "get your account back".

I sent money to scammers — what now?

Call your bank immediately using the number on your card or on its official website and report the fraudulent transaction. Keep the messages, payment details and receipts, and report it to the police. Money cannot always be recovered, but speed matters.

I paid for a "diploma" and realised it is a forgery. What now?

Do not use the document — not for a job application or anywhere else; in Russia, using a document known to be forged is prohibited by Article 327 of the Criminal Code, and other countries have similar rules. Keep the messages and receipts and consult a lawyer about what to do next.

I was told I "won" a prize and asked to pay a fee — is it real?

Almost certainly not. A legitimate prize draw never requires you to pay to receive a prize. Do not send money, do not share card details or SMS codes, and stop the conversation.

My card details were leaked — what should I do?

Block the card in your banking app or by calling your bank and order a replacement. Check your recent transactions and report any you did not make to the bank.

First steps after fraud

  1. Call your bank

    Use the number on the back of your card or on the bank's official website. Ask them to block the card and dispute any transactions you did not make.

  2. Change your passwords

    Start with your email and banking apps, then other accounts where you used the same password. Turn on a second factor wherever possible.

  3. Report to the police

    File a fraud report. Describe what happened, when, and how you paid.

  4. Keep the messages

    Take screenshots of messages, pages, payment details and receipts. Do not delete the conversation, even if the other person has disappeared.

    Save the page address, the phone number and the account name that contacted you.

  5. Warn people close to you

    If your messaging app or social media account was hacked, someone may ask your contacts for money in your name. Warn them not to act on such requests.

  • Security

    Common fraud schemes: sellers of documents, pyramid schemes, "easy money", phishing, fake tech support.

  • Practical guides

    Step-by-step guides: two-factor authentication, password managers, breach checks, phishing, diploma verification. Also home to the article catalogue.

  • FAQ

    Answers about this reference, about diplomas and documents, and about money and account security.

Sources

  • Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (Arts. 159, 159.3, 159.6, 327)
  • Bank of Russia — financial literacy materials

Laws, bank rules and service features change. This information is based on official sources as of the preparation date — check the current versions of laws and the instructions of the services themselves.