Someone realizes they have just been scammed and that money has been transferred out of their account. They feel overwhelmed and are not sure where to start. What is the most important first action?

Speed matters more at this stage than anything else. Wire transfers can sometimes be frozen within 24 to 48 hours if reported to the financial institution quickly enough. Credit card payments can often be disputed. Every hour that passes reduces the options available. Reporting to the FTC and FBI is important, but those reports do not have the same time-sensitive impact on recovering funds. Waiting until the full picture is clear costs time that cannot be recovered. Contact your bank, credit union, or exchange first, then move to the other steps when you are ready.