Lost Money in an Investment Scam? A 2025 Guide to Financial Recovery

From Victim to Advocate—Taking Control After Investment Fraud

The discovery of being a victim of investment fraud is a devastating moment. It brings a cascade of emotions—a profound sense of betrayal, shock, anger, and often, a deep-seated shame that can be paralyzing. It is crucial to understand that these feelings are a normal response to a significant financial and emotional violation. Scammers are professionals who excel at manipulation, building trust, and exploiting psychological vulnerabilities; their victims come from all walks of life, regardless of financial acumen or experience.  

This guide is designed to be more than a simple checklist; it is a strategic roadmap to navigate the complex aftermath of financial fraud. Its purpose is to help shift the mindset from that of a passive victim to a proactive advocate for one’s own recovery. By providing the necessary tools and knowledge, this report aims to empower individuals to take deliberate, informed steps through the intricate financial, legal, and emotional challenges that lie ahead.

Before proceeding, it is vital to set realistic expectations. Full financial recovery from an investment scam is difficult and, unfortunately, never guaranteed. Fraudsters are adept at quickly moving and concealing funds, often across international borders, which can make them nearly impossible to retrieve. However, this reality should not lead to despair or inaction. Taking immediate, comprehensive, and strategic action is the single most effective way to maximize the chances of recouping lost funds, holding perpetrators accountable, and preventing them from harming others. The journey begins now.  

Section 1: The First 48 Hours: Your Immediate Damage Control Checklist

In the immediate aftermath of discovering a scam, time is the most critical variable. The actions taken within the first 48 hours can significantly impact the potential for recovery and prevent further losses. This section serves as a time-sensitive crisis plan focused on stemming the financial bleeding, preserving evidence, and securing all future options. The process of gathering documentation and securing accounts should be viewed not as an administrative burden, but as the first empowering step in taking back control from the perpetrators.

Step 1: Cease All Contact and Secure Your Digital Life

The first and most important action is to sever all communication with the scammer. Do not respond to their calls, texts, emails, or social media messages. Block their numbers and profiles immediately. Scammers often attempt to prolong the fraud through promises of recovering losses (for an additional fee) or through threats and intimidation. Engaging with them only opens the door to further psychological manipulation and financial loss.  

Simultaneously, it is imperative to secure any digital accounts that may have been compromised.

• Change Passwords: If any usernames and passwords were shared with the scammer, change them immediately. If the same password was used for other accounts (email, banking, social media), change those as well, creating new, strong, and unique passwords for each.  
• Secure Your Devices: If the scammer was given remote access to a computer or phone, the device is compromised. Immediately disconnect it from the internet, run a full scan with reputable security software, and delete anything the software identifies as a problem. After cleaning the device, reset all passwords again from a different, secure device.  

Step 2: Contact Your Financial Institutions—Act Fast

Fraudsters are known to dispose of stolen money almost instantly, often moving it through a series of accounts or converting it to cryptocurrency to obscure its trail. The speed of a victim’s response can sometimes make the difference between a potential reversal and a permanent loss. The specific steps to take depend on the method of payment used.  

• Credit or Debit Card: Contact the issuing bank or credit card company using the phone number on the back of the card. Report the transaction as fraudulent and request that they initiate a “chargeback” or reverse the transaction to recover the funds.  
• Wire Transfer:
  • Through a Bank: Contact the bank’s fraud department immediately. Report the fraudulent transfer and ask them to issue a recall or reversal.  
  • Through a Service (Western Union, MoneyGram): Contact the service’s fraud department directly. Provide them with the transaction details and request a reversal. Key contact numbers include MoneyGram at 1-800-926-9400 and Western Union at 1-800-448-1492.  
• Money Transfer App (PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, etc.): Report the fraudulent transaction directly to the app provider and ask for a reversal. If the app is linked to a credit card or bank account, also report the fraud to that financial institution and request a chargeback.  
• Cryptocurrency: These transactions are designed to be largely irreversible, which makes recovery extremely difficult. Nonetheless, it is crucial to report the fraudulent transaction to the cryptocurrency exchange or platform (e.g., Coinbase, Binance) that was used to send the funds. While they may not be able to reverse the transaction, the report can help them track the fraudulent accounts and assist law enforcement.  
• Cash or Gift Cards:
  • Cash: If cash was sent via a delivery service like the U.S. Postal Service, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 and ask to intercept the package. This is a long shot but worth attempting if done immediately.  
  • Gift Cards: Contact the company that issued the gift card (e.g., Apple, Google Play, Amazon). Report that the card was used in a scam and ask if any remaining funds can be frozen or refunded. Keep the physical card and the purchase receipt as evidence.  

Step 3: Initiate Your “Recovery Dossier”

Creating a comprehensive and organized file of all evidence is the foundation of any successful recovery effort. This “Recovery Dossier” will be the single source of truth for reporting to law enforcement, filing complaints with regulators, and, if necessary, providing information to an attorney. A well-organized victim is an effective one.

The dossier should be a dedicated physical file or a secure, backed-up digital folder containing the following items, as recommended by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and other agencies :  

• Perpetrator Information: A contact sheet with every piece of information known about the scammer: names used, mailing and email addresses, phone numbers, websites, and any purported regulatory registration numbers (e.g., a CRD number for a broker).  
• Timeline of Events: A detailed, chronological log of all events, from the first contact to the final transaction and the moment the fraud was discovered. This narrative helps investigators understand the progression of the scam.  
• Financial Records: Copies of bank statements, credit card statements, wire transfer receipts, and cleared checks showing the flow of money. For cryptocurrency scams, this includes screenshots of the transactions, wallet addresses, and transaction hashes (TxIDs).  
• All Communications: Saved and printed copies of all emails, text messages, and social media conversations. For phone calls, create detailed notes with the date, time, duration, and a summary of what was discussed.  
• Investment Materials: Any brochures, prospectuses, private placement memorandums, or other documents provided by the scammer.
• Official Reports: As reports are filed, add copies of the police report and confirmation pages from complaints submitted to regulatory bodies.  

Step 4: Protect Your Identity and Credit

Investment fraud and identity theft are often intertwined, as victims may have provided sensitive personal information to the scammers. Protecting one’s identity is a critical damage control step.  

• Place a Fraud Alert or Credit Freeze: Contact one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) to place a fraud alert on the credit file. That bureau is required to notify the other two. A fraud alert makes it harder for someone to open new accounts in the victim’s name. For stronger protection, consider a credit freeze, which locks down access to the credit report entirely.
  • Equifax: 1-800-685-1111
  • Experian: 1-888-397-3742
  • TransUnion: 1-800-916-8800
• Monitor Credit Reports: Victims are entitled to a free credit report from each of the three bureaus every 12 months via AnnualCreditReport.com, the only official source. Review these reports meticulously for any accounts or inquiries that are not recognizable.  
• Report Compromised Social Security Number: If a Social Security number was given to the scammer, it is crucial to go to the Federal Trade Commission’s dedicated identity theft website, IdentityTheft.gov, for a personalized recovery plan.  

Section 2: Sounding the Alarm: A Strategic Guide to Reporting the Crime

After taking immediate damage control measures, the next phase involves formally reporting the crime to the appropriate authorities. It is essential to approach this step with a clear understanding of its purpose. Victims often assume that filing a report with an agency like the FBI or the SEC will automatically trigger an investigation aimed at recovering their specific losses. This is a common and understandable misconception that can lead to frustration.

The reality is that these two objectives—bringing criminals to justice and recovering personal funds—often run on separate, parallel tracks. Reporting the crime is a civic duty that provides law enforcement with the data needed to identify patterns, build larger cases, and ultimately stop criminals from victimizing others. The information provided, even if it feels small, becomes a vital piece of a much larger intelligence puzzle. Recovering money, however, is typically a separate process that requires the victim to actively pursue civil remedies, which will be discussed in the next section. Understanding this distinction is key to managing expectations and taking the correct actions on both fronts.  

Why Reporting Matters (Even If It Doesn’t Get Your Money Back Immediately)

Filing a formal complaint serves several critical functions beyond an individual case. It helps law enforcement and regulatory agencies:

• Identify and Track Criminals: Each report adds to a database that can reveal connections between different scams and identify the individuals or networks behind them.  
• Prevent Future Victimization: By flagging fraudulent websites, phone numbers, and schemes, agencies can issue public alerts and work to shut down the criminals’ operations.  
• Build Criminal Cases: A single complaint may not be enough to launch a full-scale investigation, but a pattern of similar complaints can provide the evidence needed for prosecution.  
• Potentially Freeze Assets: In some cases, rapid reporting of a cyber-enabled crime can allow authorities to trace and freeze stolen funds before they are dissipated completely.  

How to File a Complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

For any investment scam that involved the use of the internet—including fraudulent websites, email correspondence, or online advertisements—the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is the primary reporting destination. It serves as the central hub for the FBI to receive and analyze cybercrime complaints.  

A step-by-step guide to filing with the IC3:

1. Navigate to the Official Website: Go to ic3.gov. It is critical to use only this official URL, as scammers have been known to create impersonator websites to defraud victims a second time.  
2. Gather Required Information: Before starting the form, have the “Recovery Dossier” ready. The form will ask for detailed information, including :
   • Complainant’s Information: The victim’s name, address, phone, and email.
   • Financial Transaction Information: Details of the financial loss, including transaction dates, amounts, and information about where the money was sent (account numbers, crypto addresses, etc.).
   • Subject’s Information: Any information known about the perpetrator, such as their name, email, website, and IP address.
   • A Detailed Narrative: A clear, chronological description of what happened.
3. Complete and Submit the Form: Fill out the online form as completely and accurately as possible. The IC3 system does not allow for attachments, so any critical text, such as email headers, should be pasted directly into the complaint fields. Victims must retain all original documents and evidence, as an investigating agency may request them later.  
4. Understand What Happens Next: After submission, the complaint is reviewed by analysts and may be forwarded to federal, state, or international law enforcement agencies for investigation. The IC3 itself will not provide status updates or contact the victim directly. The value of the report lies in its contribution to the broader law enforcement effort.  

How to File a Complaint with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

The SEC is the primary federal regulator of the U.S. securities markets. Filing a complaint with the SEC is crucial if the fraud involved investments like stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or other securities, or if it was perpetrated by a person or firm claiming to be a registered investment professional.  

A step-by-step guide to filing with the SEC:

1. Navigate to the SEC’s Complaint Center: The main portal for submitting complaints is on the SEC’s website. The direct link to the Investor Complaint Form is help.sec.gov/s/investor-complaint.  
2. Choose the Correct Form: The SEC has different forms for different purposes. The “Investor Complaint Form” is for problems with an investment account or a financial professional. For tips about broader market manipulation, insider trading, or large-scale fraud like a Ponzi scheme, the “Tips, Complaints, & Referrals (TCR)” form is more appropriate.  
3. Complete the Form with Detail: Using the “Recovery Dossier,” provide a clear and detailed account of the fraud. This includes the names of the individuals and firms involved, the specific securities, dates of transactions, and the amounts lost. Do not include sensitive personal identifiers like Social Security or driver’s license numbers in the submission.  
4. Make a Critical Decision: The form will present an important option: whether to allow the SEC to send a copy of the complaint to the firm or individual being complained about. If “Yes” is selected, the firm is prompted to respond, and the SEC can help facilitate communication. If “No” is selected, the complaint is recorded in the SEC’s database for intelligence purposes, but the SEC cannot assist further with that specific complaint.  

Other Key Agencies to Notify

To cast the widest possible net and ensure all relevant authorities are aware of the fraud, consider reporting to these additional agencies:

• FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority): If the fraud was committed by a brokerage firm or a financial advisor registered with FINRA, a complaint should be filed directly with them. FINRA has the power to discipline its members with fines, suspensions, or a bar from the industry.  
• State Securities Regulator: Every state has its own securities regulator that handles local fraud cases. These agencies can be particularly helpful and can be located through the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) website.  
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): For general scams, especially those involving identity theft, filing a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov adds the information to the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure database used by law enforcement agencies across the country.  
• International Scams: If the scammer or the fraudulent company is based in another country, it is essential to file a complaint with econsumer.gov. This is a partnership of consumer protection agencies from around the world that share complaint data to combat cross-border fraud.  

Key Reporting Agencies at a Glance

For a victim under stress, navigating which agency to contact can be overwhelming. This table provides a quick-reference dashboard to clarify the role of each key entity and help prioritize action.

Section 3: The Path to Recovery: Realities and Avenues for Recouping Your Losses

Once the initial damage control is complete and the crime has been reported, the focus shifts to the active pursuit of financial recovery. This section details the primary legal and administrative avenues available, grounded in a realistic understanding of the challenges involved.

The Hard Truth About Recovery

It is essential to reiterate a difficult truth: recovering money lost to investment fraud is an uphill battle. Scammers are experts at moving funds to jurisdictions where they are hard to trace and recover, and funds sent via cryptocurrency are particularly challenging to claw back. In many cases, victims may only recover a small fraction of their losses—or nothing at all. Acknowledging this reality is not a sign of defeat but a necessary step to evaluate the available options with a clear perspective and avoid falling for secondary “recovery” scams that promise guaranteed results.  

Civil Remedies: Taking Direct Action

Civil remedies involve taking direct legal action to recover funds. This is distinct from the criminal justice process and is often the most direct path a victim can take to seek compensation.

• FINRA Arbitration & Mediation: For disputes involving a FINRA-registered brokerage firm or broker, arbitration is the primary venue for resolving disputes. It is a legally binding process that is typically faster, less formal, and less expensive than a traditional court case. An investor can file an arbitration claim if the misconduct occurred within the last six years. While investors can represent themselves, the process is complex, and representation by an attorney specializing in securities arbitration is highly recommended. For those who cannot afford an attorney, some law schools operate securities arbitration clinics that may provide free or low-cost legal help.  
• Civil Lawsuits: Filing a lawsuit in state or federal court is another option. This path is often necessary when the perpetrator is not a registered broker or when seeking damages from a third party that may have enabled the fraud. For example, a brokerage firm can be held liable for failing to adequately supervise a broker who was conducting a fraudulent scheme on the side (known as “selling away”). A significant challenge with suing the direct perpetrator of a scam is that they may have already spent or hidden the assets, making a court judgment difficult to collect.  

Collective Recovery: Class-Action Lawsuits

A securities class-action lawsuit is a legal action brought by one or more investors on behalf of a larger group (or “class”) of individuals who suffered similar financial losses due to the same fraudulent activity, such as a company making materially false statements.  

• The Process: A law firm will typically file the case and define a “class period”—the timeframe during which the fraud allegedly inflated the security’s price. Any investor who purchased the security during that period and lost money is generally considered a member of the class automatically. The court appoints a “lead plaintiff” to represent the interests of the entire class.  
• Pros and Cons: The primary advantage of a class action is that it provides a path to potential recovery for investors whose individual losses are too small to justify the expense of hiring their own lawyer. The costs of litigation are shared across the entire class and are paid from any settlement or judgment. The major disadvantage is that the recoveries are often very small on a per-investor basis, frequently amounting to just pennies on the dollar of losses. For investors who have suffered substantial losses, it may be more advantageous to “opt out” of the class action and pursue an individual arbitration claim or lawsuit, where the potential for a larger recovery may be greater.  

Restitution from Government Actions

In some large-scale fraud cases, government enforcement actions can result in the creation of funds to compensate victims. This is not a direct path that a victim can initiate, but one they may be able to benefit from.

• SEC Fair Funds and Disgorgement: Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the SEC has the authority to take civil penalties collected from securities law violators and combine them with ill-gotten gains (“disgorgement”) to create a “Fair Fund” for distribution to harmed investors. The SEC maintains a public list of cases with distribution funds, and eligible investors are typically contacted by a court-appointed fund administrator.  
• Criminal Restitution and Court-Appointed Receivers: In major criminal fraud cases, particularly Ponzi schemes, a federal court may appoint a receiver. A receiver is a neutral third party who is given the authority to take control of the fraudster’s remaining assets, locate and recover hidden funds (sometimes by suing third parties who profited from the scheme), and ultimately distribute the net proceeds to victims according to a court-approved plan. The decade-long effort to compensate victims of the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme is a prominent example, where a special master overseen by the Department of Justice successfully recovered and distributed over $4.3 billion to more than 40,000 victims, achieving a nearly 94% recovery of their fraud losses. While such a high recovery rate is exceptionally rare, it demonstrates that in some circumstances, significant restitution is possible.  

Comparing Financial Recovery Options

Making an informed decision about which recovery path to pursue is critical. This table provides a strategic overview of the primary options, comparing them based on the factors that matter most to a victim: cost, time, and potential outcome.

Section 4: Assembling Your Recovery Team: How to Hire an Investment Fraud Attorney

After being betrayed by someone in a position of financial trust, the prospect of hiring another professional can be daunting. Victims are caught in a trust vacuum, making them understandably wary. This vulnerability is precisely what a predatory subset of the “recovery” industry seeks to exploit. Therefore, the most crucial step in seeking legal help is to first understand how to differentiate a legitimate advocate from another scammer. By learning to spot the red flags of predatory recovery services, victims can confidently engage with qualified legal counsel who can genuinely help.

Do You Need a Lawyer?

While victims can and should file initial reports with regulatory agencies on their own, the path to actual financial recovery is almost always a complex legal proceeding. Navigating FINRA arbitration, court litigation, or the claims process in a receivership requires specialized knowledge of securities law and procedure. An experienced investment fraud attorney can provide a realistic assessment of a claim’s merits, gather evidence through legal discovery, negotiate with opposing counsel, and represent the victim’s interests in a formal hearing or trial. Attempting this alone against the well-funded legal teams of brokerage firms or other large entities is exceptionally difficult.  

How to Find and Vet a Securities Fraud Attorney

Choosing the right legal representation can be the most important decision a victim makes in the recovery process. The following criteria can help in selecting a qualified advocate :  

• Specialization is Key: Look for an attorney or law firm that primarily or exclusively focuses on securities litigation and investment fraud. This area of law is highly complex, and a general practice lawyer will not have the requisite expertise.  
• Verify Experience and Track Record: Do not hesitate to ask about the firm’s history with cases similar to the one in question. Reputable firms will often showcase their case results and have a verifiable track record of recovering significant funds for their clients.  
• Check Reputation and Credentials: Look for peer recognition from legal rating services like Best Lawyers or Super Lawyers, and read client testimonials and reviews. This can provide insight into the firm’s standing in the legal community and its level of client service.  
• Use the Initial Consultation Wisely: Most reputable firms offer a free initial consultation. Use this meeting to assess the attorney’s knowledge and communication style. They should ask detailed questions about the case and provide a straightforward, realistic assessment of the potential outcomes. Be wary of anyone who makes grand promises or guarantees a win; this is a significant red flag.  

Understanding Legal Fee Structures

A major concern for any fraud victim is the cost of hiring a lawyer. Fortunately, the fee structure most commonly used in these cases is designed to eliminate upfront financial risk for the client.

• Contingency Fee: This is the standard arrangement for investment fraud cases. Under a contingency fee agreement, the attorney’s fee is a percentage of the money that is successfully recovered for the client. If there is no recovery, the client owes no attorney’s fee. This model aligns the interests of the attorney and the client—both are motivated to achieve the maximum possible recovery. The typical percentage can vary but is often around one-third of the recovery.  
• Case Expenses: It is important to clarify how case expenses will be handled. These are the out-of-pocket costs of litigation, such as filing fees, expert witness fees, and deposition transcripts. In many contingency arrangements, the law firm will advance these costs, and they are then reimbursed from the settlement or award before the attorney’s percentage is calculated. This should be clearly spelled out in the written retainer agreement.  
• Other Arrangements: While less common for plaintiffs, some firms may work on an hourly basis or use hybrid fee structures that combine a lower hourly rate with a smaller contingency percentage.  

CRITICAL WARNING: How to Spot and Avoid Predatory Recovery Scams

After a large-scale fraud is exposed, a cottage industry of fraudulent “asset recovery” companies emerges to prey on the victims. These entities often buy or obtain lists of victims from court filings and other sources, known as “sucker lists,” to target people who have already demonstrated a vulnerability to scams.  

The following are absolute RED FLAGS of a recovery scam:

• They Contact You First with an Unsolicited Offer: Legitimate law firms market their services, but be extremely wary of anyone who cold calls, emails, or texts with a promise to recover specific losses.  
• They Demand an Upfront Fee: This is the most definitive sign of a scam. They will use various names for this fee—a “retainer,” “processing fee,” “administrative charge,” “tax,” or “refundable insurance bond”.   Legitimate government agencies like the SEC, FBI, or FTC will NEVER ask for a fee to help a victim get a refund. Legitimate law firms working on contingency do not require upfront payment for their services.  
• They Guarantee Recovery: No honest attorney or legitimate recovery service can guarantee the outcome of a legal proceeding. Promises of a guaranteed refund are a lie designed to get more money from the victim.  
• They Insist on Unconventional Payment Methods: If a company demands payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, it is a scam. These methods are used because they are fast, difficult to trace, and nearly impossible to reverse.  
• They Impersonate Government Agencies or Law Firms: Scammers will often use official-sounding names or claim to be affiliated with the SEC, FBI, or another government body. Always independently verify any such claim by looking up the agency’s official website and contact information. Do not use a phone number or link provided in the suspicious communication.  

Section 5: Beyond the Balance Sheet: Healing from the Emotional Toll of Financial Fraud

The impact of investment fraud extends far beyond financial loss. The emotional and psychological toll can be profound and long-lasting, creating a significant barrier to recovery. Addressing this trauma is an essential part of the healing process.

You Are Not Alone: Understanding the Psychological Impact

Research conducted by the FINRA Foundation shows that nearly two-thirds of fraud victims experience at least one severe emotional consequence, including high levels of stress, anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Victims often grapple with intense feelings of guilt, embarrassment, and self-blame, believing they should have known better.  

It is vital to recognize that these feelings, while powerful, are misplaced. Scammers are adept at psychological manipulation and are the only ones to blame for their criminal actions. The shame and stigma associated with being victimized can prevent individuals from reporting the crime or seeking support, which only helps the perpetrators continue their schemes. Acknowledging that anyone can be a victim is the first step toward emotional recovery.  

Resources for Support and Healing

Fortunately, a growing number of resources are available to help victims cope with the emotional aftermath of financial fraud. Seeking support is a sign of strength and a critical component of rebuilding one’s life.

• FINRA Foundation and Give an Hour: This partnership offers free, confidential, and virtual peer support groups led by mental health counselors. These groups are available for both scam victims and their family members, providing a safe space to share experiences and heal.  
• AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline (877-908-3360): This is a free resource for AARP members and non-members alike. Trained fraud specialists and volunteers provide guidance and support without judgment.  
• VictimConnect Resource Center (855-4-VICTIM): This national helpline offers confidential assistance to crime victims, helping them learn about their rights and connect with local resources.  
• National Mental Health Helplines: For immediate emotional distress, national crisis lines are available 24/7. In the U.S., the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 provides referrals to local treatment facilities and support groups.  

Conclusion: Rebuilding Your Financial Future with Vigilance and Resilience

The path to recovery after an investment scam is challenging, requiring courage, patience, and strategic action. While the financial loss is the most immediate injury, the erosion of trust and the emotional trauma can be just as damaging. However, by taking deliberate and informed steps, victims can reclaim a sense of control over their situation and begin the difficult process of rebuilding.

The journey starts with immediate action: securing accounts, documenting everything, and contacting financial institutions to halt the flow of money. It continues with the civic duty of reporting the crime to law enforcement and regulatory agencies like the FBI and SEC, contributing to a broader effort to bring criminals to justice. The most proactive step toward personal recovery involves exploring civil remedies, which requires assembling a qualified legal team. By carefully vetting and hiring a specialized investment fraud attorney, victims can gain a powerful advocate dedicated to maximizing their chances of recouping their losses.

Finally, healing is not just about the numbers on a balance sheet. Acknowledging the emotional toll and seeking support from family, friends, and dedicated resources is a vital part of the recovery process. By sharing their stories, victims can also help protect others from similar fates, transforming a personal trauma into a powerful act of public service. The road ahead is not easy, but through vigilance, resilience, and the right support, it is possible to move forward and rebuild a secure financial future.