How to Track Down Someone Who Scammed You

Becoming a victim of a scam is both a horrible and scary experience. Aside from the financial loss, there’s identity theft, emotional distress and loss of trust to deal with. But what if you knew how to track down someone who scammed you? Or you may have puzzling questions on how to scam a scammer. Fret not. This guide will share useful insights to help track down a scammer while safeguarding yourself.

Can a scammer be tracked?

Scammers are challenging to track because they often hide behind fake social media profiles, stolen SIM cards, and anonymous cryptocurrency wallets. But if you act quickly, you can help law enforcement agencies gather as much information as possible to connect the dots of their digital footprint. 

How to track down someone who scammed you

Tracking can be tricky, but you can try. However, you want to ensure you’ve protected yourself and your family first. This is vital, especially considering that 70% of all identity theft and fraud scenarios are repeat situations. This means updating and changing passwords to all your online accounts. Freezing your credit across all bureaus, and closing all compromised apps, banks and credit card accounts. Finally, scan your devices for malware and viruses. Once you’ve done all that, you can follow the steps below when you wish to know how to get a scammer in trouble.  

Collect evidence

The first step on how to get a scammer in trouble is the amount of evidence you collect that can be useful against the scammer. And remember, no matter how insignificant the detail is to you, during your interactions with them, it can make a difference. If possible, gather this evidence before blocking the scammer. It can include:

• Contact details: accounts, fake names, spoofed emails and phone numbers.
• Conversations: take screenshots of all texts and social media messages. Don’t forget the profile picture they used as well.
• Profile photos: Although scammers use fake photos, you can connect the dots to their other fake accounts and possibly warn other people. So, save those photos and carry out a reverse image search to find out their other accounts.
• Details about interactions and activities: What precisely did they ask you to do? Scammers might ask to click certain links, deposit checks, buy gift cards, transfer money and so on. You need screenshots or detailed journals on everything.

Search for scammer information

If they’ve contacted you by phone number, you can try using a reverse phone lookup service to uncover insights about the phone number. LocatePhone is a great scammer phone number lookup tool that helps find details such as the names they are using, address information, and even geolocation. Sometimes these details might not lead directly to them, but they can help create a more complete picture of their operations. 

Use Reverse Image Search

As said earlier, you need to carry out a Reverse Image Search using the profile picture they used on the platforms they interacted with you. Consider tools like Google Image Search. Uploading the profile photo will uncover similar photos all over the internet and may help you find every other account they use online. 

Contact authorities

If you haven’t already, reporting is an important step in your fight against scammers. Let’s talk about how to report a scam to the legal authorities. 

• File a report with the authorities

First, consider filing a report via the FBI scam report portal and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report the scam. You should also file a report via IdentityTheft.gov, or call their helpline at 1-877-438-4338. Above everything, your local police should also be made aware of the situation. Usually, to file the police report, you’ll need a copy of the FTC report, your personal identification (Driver’s license, SSN or passport) and evidence of the theft. Make sure to get a copy of every report you file.

• Financial Institutions

Your financial institutions also have dedicated portals for reporting the scam. You must do this first, especially around when the scam happened. This would mean calling to have your accounts frozen. Then, you call and send emails to the fraud desk of your banking and credit card institutions to ensure proper investigation.

Seek professional help

Professionals like private investigators may also help discover valuable insights about the scammer, especially when it appears to be a local activity. Private investors use a variety of techniques including public record searches and social media analysis to help identify the scammer and gather evidence. However, you must note that hiring a private investigator can be costly. And their success depends largely on how complex and sophisticated the scammers appear to be. 

Can I track a WhatsApp scammer?

What if you worry about how to track down someone who scammed you on WhatsApp? Of course, you already know that owning a WhatsApp account is relatively easy for anyone including those with fake SIM cards. But you can still try to track down the scammer using the following steps. 

Reverse phone lookup

First, you need to carry out a reverse phone lookup of the phone number they used. Using a comprehensive reverse phone lookup service like LocatePhone can help you achieve a robust picture. LocatePhone will find the registered full name, email and physical address and possibly connections with other social media accounts they use. 

Contact authorities

You also need to contact the local authorities such as filing a police report to help the process. To do this, you’ll have to provide details about the scam including payment information and screenshots of the conversation. 

How to report a scam

Beyond filing a report with the FTC and the FBI, there are other reporting measures you must take to ensure all interested parties are aware of the incident. Here’s a breakdown of the different types of scams and the other authorities that should know about them. 

Where the Scam Happened	How to Report the Scammer
Phone Scammer	Call the network provider and report the scam. File report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) either online or by forwarding texts and messages to 7726 (SPAM).
Social Media Scam	File a report with the social media platform such as: Facebook Instagram Snapchat Twitter(X) Alert the FTC.
Messaging Apps like WhatsApp and Telegram	WhatsApp: Open the chat window, and tap the three dots at the top right of the page. Then select “Report” or “Report and Block.” Telegram: Tap on the name or phone number of the person. Select the three dots (“More” button) and select “Block”.
Dating Scam	File report with the dating app’s fraud desk Contact Federal Trade Commission
Email Scam	Tap the “mark as spam” button in your email software. Contact the company the scammer claimed to be representing. Report to the Federal Trade Commission.
Cash via U.S Postal Service (USPS)	Contact the USPS helpline at 877-876-2455File report with the FTC
Online Marketplace Scam/Gift Card scam	Report with the fraud desk of that online marketplace (e.g eBay, Target, Amazon)Contact the FTC
Bank or credit card scam	Contact the fraud desk at your local bank Call the helpline to freeze all access and accounts. File a report with the FTC and call the police
Investment fraud	Contact the fraud desk at your local bank Call the helpline to freeze all access and accounts. File report with the FTC
Payment apps and Wire transfers	Contact the payment apps’ support team File report with the FTC
Government Impersonation Scam	Federal Trade Commission (FTC)Call the local law enforcement
Cryptocurrency exchanges	Contact your connecting bank account’s fraud support Report to the crypto exchange’s help desk. File a complaint on the Better Business Bureau profile.

How to protect yourself from scammers

Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated at an alarming rate. But, there are steps you can take to protect yourself. 

• Secure your accounts: Use strong unique passwords for your online accounts. Avoid using the same password for different accounts and enable two-factor authentication.
• Steer clear of phishing attempts: Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown senders. If possible, look for the information on your own.
• Avoid unexpected offers: When someone reaches out to you with a “juicy” offer, they are never about you but reaping you off.
• Use malware protection: Keep your devices protected by installing up-to-date real-time monitoring security software. Also, consider using VPNs occasionally when surfing the internet.
• Educate yourself: Education helps you make informed decisions about scams in real-time. Read security news, and learn how to detect scams from a mile off. Scammers often use established patterns such as impersonating trusted companies or individuals. They also create a sense of urgency so you don’t think too much about doing whatever they’ve asked for.
• Regularly check your accounts: You need to regularly check your credit reports and bank statements. Look out for warning signs such as strange charges, or dubious accounts opened in your name.
• Be intentional about privacy: Again, don’t forget that the majority of scams are repeat situations. So, you need to be wary of how much you share on your social media platforms. Ensure you’re not sharing details about your bank accounts, savings accounts, physical address and more.

FAQ

Can the police track down a scammer?

Yes, the police can track a scammer especially if they have enough evidence and resources. However, this has become more challenging as the majority of scams now occur entirely online. And often these international perpetrators are typically in a foreign location. How they succeed depends on the severity of the crime, the amount of money informed and cooperation with international law enforcement agents. 

How to track scammer locations online?

There’s no foolproof way to track a scammer’s location online because these nefarious persons tend to mask their identity and location. But you can try using reverse phone lookup tools like LocatePhone to find information about their phone number, IP address and even geolocation. You can also try tracing their footsteps on social media as well. 

How to find a scammer through a phone number?

To find a scammer using a phone number, you need a powerful reverse phone lookup service like LocatePhone. Seize the advantage of a fascinating tool that can find the name, carrier information, and general location associated with that phone number. 

Conclusion

Now you know how to track down someone who scammed you? Although it is a financial and emotional rollercoaster, you can gather evidence, report the crime and take proactive steps against the scammers. Still, you need to be patient and realistic when trying to track down a scammer. With careful steps, you can fight back and protect yourself from future scams.