If you have fallen victim to cybercrime, update all your passwords for email and banking accounts. Inform your bank or financial institution right away, report the incident to the relevant authorities, and secure your online profiles.
Cybercrime can happen to anyone. It might be a hacked email, a fake online scam, stolen banking details, or someone using your personal information without permission.
Many people feel shocked, angry, or embarrassed. Some may even feel unsafe or worried long after it happens.
At Vedder Counselling, our Crime Victim Assistance Program helps people who are struggling after experiencing crime, including cybercrime.
We support individuals dealing with stress, fear, and trauma so they can begin healing.
What Is Cybercrime?
Cybercrime refers to illegal activities carried out using the internet, computers, or digital devices. It involves criminals attempting to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, steal money, or misuse personal data.
These attacks can target individuals, businesses, or organizations and may lead to financial loss, identity theft, or privacy breaches.
Sometimes it starts with a fake email asking for your banking details.
Other times, it could be someone hacking into your social media, stealing your identity, or using your credit card information.
Some common examples of cybercrime include:
- Identity theft
- Online scams
- Credit card fraud
- Hacked email or social media accounts
- Phishing emails or fake websites
- Online threats or blackmail
- Cyber bullying
- Ransomware attacks
- Investment scams
Cybercrime can affect anyone. Scammers and hackers use tricks that look real, making it hard to spot the danger right away. Canadians lost over $638 million to fraud in 2024, showing how quickly online scams and cybercrime are growing.
What Should You Do Right Away After Cybercrime?
Responding quickly can limit harm, protect your personal information, and reduce the risk of losing money or access to important accounts.
Whether it is a hacked bank account, a phishing scam, identity theft, or online fraud, knowing what to do can make the situation easier to manage.
1. Stay Calm and Understand What Happened
Finding out that you have been scammed or hacked can feel overwhelming. Your first reaction may be panic, anger, or fear if money is missing or personal information has been stolen.
Before doing anything, stop and look at what happened.
For example, did you click a fake email link? Did someone log into your social media account? Was there an unknown payment on your credit card?
Understanding the problem can help you decide your next step.
Staying calm is important because panic can lead to rushed decisions, like replying to scammers or clicking more harmful links.
2. Secure Your Accounts Immediately
One of the first things you should do after cybercrime is lock down your accounts.
If your email has been hacked, change your password right away. This is important because many of your other accounts, such as online banking, shopping accounts, and social media, are linked to your email.
For example, if someone gets into your Gmail, they may reset your banking password or access your saved payment details.
Start by changing passwords for your:
- Email account
- Online banking
- Social media accounts
- Shopping websites like Amazon
- Work accounts
Use strong passwords with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Turn on two-factor authentication whenever possible. This adds another layer of protection.
3. Contact Your Bank or Credit Card Provider
If your banking details were stolen or you notice suspicious charges, contact your bank immediately.
For example, if you see a payment you did not make or receive a text about a transfer you do not recognize, do not wait.
Your bank can take important steps to secure your finances, such as freezing your account, stopping suspicious transactions, replacing compromised cards, or assisting in recovering lost funds.
Reporting financial fraud as soon as possible increases the chances of reducing losses and preventing further unauthorized activity.
4. Report the Cyber Crime
Many victims of scams feel ashamed or embarrassed, which stops them from coming forward.
However, reporting cybercrime is one of the most important actions you can take after an incident.
In Canada, you can report scams, fraud, and identity theft to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and your local police department. This agency gathers information on fraud cases, monitors scam trends, and alerts the public about emerging threats.
Filing a report not only creates an official record but also helps investigators track criminal activity and may help prevent others from becoming victims.
For example, if you received a fake text pretending to be from your bank or a scam call asking for gift cards, reporting it may help stop the same scam from hurting someone else.
Save all proof before deleting anything, including emails, text messages, screenshots, usernames, and payment receipts.
These details can help during the investigation.
5. Check and Protect Your Devices
Sometimes cyber criminals do more than steal information. They may also place harmful software on your phone, laptop, or computer.
This can happen if you clicked on a fake link, downloaded an attachment, or installed unknown software.
For example, a phishing email might appear to be from PayPal or Amazon, but clicking the link could install malware.
Run an antivirus scan on your device as soon as possible.
If your device still feels unsafe or acts strangely, such as freezing, sending random messages, or opening apps on its own, it may be best to get professional tech help.
Securing your device can lower the risk of being targeted again.
How Can Cybercrime Affect You Emotionally?
Many people underestimate the emotional effects of cybercrime. But being targeted can deeply affect your sense of safety. Some common emotional reactions include:
Fear and Anxiety
After cybercrime, you may feel nervous every time you check your bank account, open emails, or use social media. Some people become constantly worried about being attacked again.
Anger
It is normal to feel angry after someone has violated your privacy or stolen from you. This anger may be directed at the criminal, yourself, or even others.
Shame or Embarrassment
Many victims blame themselves. They may think they should have seen the scam coming. But cyber criminals are often skilled at manipulation. Being targeted does not mean you were careless.
Trouble Sleeping
Stress after cybercrime can make it hard to relax. Some people experience racing thoughts, nightmares, or difficulty falling asleep.
Loss of Trust
Victims may struggle to trust online systems, other people, or even their own judgment after what happened. This can affect daily life in many ways.
When Does Cyber Crime Become Trauma?
For some people, cyber crime is not just stressful. It can become deeply upsetting and traumatic when the impact feels personal or continues over time.
This can happen after losing a large amount of money, having private photos or personal information exposed, facing online threats, or dealing with identity theft that affects everyday life.
In some cases, victims may start feeling constant fear, panic, trouble sleeping, or difficulty trusting others.
They may replay the event in their mind or feel unsafe even when using simple things like email or online banking.
When these feelings last for weeks or begin to affect daily life, they may be a sign that emotional support is needed.
How Can Counselling Help After Cybercrime?
Recovering from cybercrime is not only about fixing your passwords, bank accounts, or devices.
For many people, the emotional effects can last much longer.
Being scammed, hacked, or threatened online can leave you feeling stressed, anxious, unsafe, or even ashamed.
These feelings can affect your sleep, your work, and your relationships.
Support Through the Crime Victim Assistance Program BC (CVAP)
At Vedder Counselling, we provide support through the Crime Victim Assistance Program BC (CVAP) for eligible crime victims, family members, and witnesses across British Columbia.
This program can help cover counselling costs for people affected by crime, including cybercrime.
Our Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCCs) provide trauma-informed counselling to help people process difficult experiences and start healing.
We offer counselling in Chilliwack, Salmon Arm, and online across BC.
Understanding Your Emotions
After cybercrime, your emotions can feel all over the place. You may feel scared one moment, angry the next, or even blame yourself for what happened.
Counselling gives you a safe space to talk through these feelings and better understand them.
Managing Stress and Anxiety
Many victims feel constantly on edge after being targeted online. You may keep checking your bank account, worry about being hacked again, or feel nervous every time your phone rings.
Therapy can help reduce this stress and teach ways to feel calm again.
Rebuilding Trust in Yourself
Cybercrime can shake your confidence.
Many people start questioning their own judgment after being scammed or tricked.
Counselling can help rebuild that trust so you can feel more confident in your decisions moving forward.
Processing Trauma and Moving Forward
If the experience has left you feeling deeply upset or unsafe, trauma-informed counselling can help you work through it step by step.
This can make the fear feel less overwhelming and help you slowly move toward healing.
Most importantly, Individual Counselling reminds you that you do not have to go through this alone.
Recovery After Cybercrime Takes Time!
Cybercrime can affect more than just your bank account or online identity.
It can affect your peace of mind.
Taking practical steps is important, but emotional recovery matters too.
If you have been the victim of cybercrime and are struggling with stress, fear, or trauma, you do not have to deal with it alone.
Vedder Counselling offers support through the Crime Victim Assistance Program for individuals coping with the emotional effects of crime.
Book a counselling session today and start working toward healing and recovery.
