{"id":1791,"date":"2023-05-25T19:46:18","date_gmt":"2023-05-25T19:46:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dataprot.net\/?p=1791"},"modified":"2023-07-14T07:14:51","modified_gmt":"2023-07-14T07:14:51","slug":"how-to-track-down-someone-who-scammed-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dataprot.net\/guides\/how-to-track-down-someone-who-scammed-you\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Track Down Someone Who Scammed You"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Every year, 1 out of 10 American<\/a> adults are at risk of being a victim of fraud and identity theft<\/a> through scamming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also reported that Americans lost nearly $8.8 billion<\/a> to scams and fraud in 2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scammers can steal anything, from identities to properties, to just plain money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, phishing and pharming are scams that steal your information. Dating and phone call scams have perpetrators directly asking for money from their victims by pretending to be other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, discover how to track down someone who scammed you using different ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can a Scammer be Traced?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As with all crimes, tracking down scammers can require a lot of time and patience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 2016 BBC article<\/a> once reported that an Austrian was able to catch his scammer and demand a full refund. And in 2020, Interpol made a record 20,000 arrests<\/a> when they cracked down on a massive phone and online scam syndicate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So the future may feel bleak after discovering you\u2019ve been scammed. But, it is possible to track down scammers and make them pay for their wrongdoings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Track Down a Scammer<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve suffered financial loss from being scammed, one of your top priorities would be to find the perpetrator and report them to the authorities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scammers can conceal their personal information. But by using services from Social Catfish, BeenVerified, TruthFinder, and private investigators, you may be able to uncover a person\u2019s real identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are some methods you can employ to track down a scammer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Method 1: Do Reverse Image Searching on Social Catfish<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Catfishing scams are prevalent and lucrative for many scammers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s been a 358% increase<\/a> in catfishing reports from 2019 to 2021. And in 2022, an average of $132.5 million per quarter was stolen from victims of scams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social Catfish<\/a> can help you track down a scammer using reverse image searches. The website finds people you\u2019ve met online and provides valuable information about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simply upload the photo you have on the website and Social Catfish will run a search for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The results often include a comprehensive result, including social media accounts (even OnlyFans!<\/a>), phone numbers, and other personal information such as names and birthdays.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social Catfish can also look for people using their email address, username, physical address, or phone number. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The site also offers discounted prices<\/a> through coupons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Method 2: Use Popular Search Engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Doing a Google search on someone is one of the first steps to take when looking for a scammer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To use a search engine, you simply need to enter the name and location that you have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use certain punctuation marks to enhance your results. For example, enclose a name with quotation marks<\/a> (\u201c\u201d<\/em>) in Google\u2019s search bar. This way, you\u2019ll only bring up pages that mention that exact name rather than variations of it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also use OR<\/em> to combine search queries like in \u2018John Doe OR scam\u2019 <\/em>to produce more specific results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, search for other things like business names, vehicle license plate numbers, phone numbers, addresses, or email addresses related to the suspected scam. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perpetrators will often reuse fake info multiple times. And someone, somewhere, is likely to post about it online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Method 3: Using People Search Engines<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

People Search Engines<\/a> are powerful services that gather useful, personal information online and compile it into comprehensive reports. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

BeenVerified and TruthFinder are two of the most popular people search engines out there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

BeenVerified<\/a> gathers up-to-date information from public records and other privately licensed databases and provided the basics like addresses and contact information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The site also compiles histories on education, employment, unclaimed money, crime, vehicle, assets, and property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TruthFinder<\/a>, on the other hand, also uses public records and several databases to verify people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It even has a feature called Dark Web Monitoring that scans the dark web for your personal information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both BeenVerified<\/a> and TruthFinder<\/a> are legit and safe websites that you can use to track someone who scammed you. They also have a trial period that costs you almost nothing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

TruthFinder offers a $1 trial<\/a> that lasts for 5 days, while BeenVerified offers a $1 trial<\/a> that lasts for 7 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Method 4: Hiring a Private Investigator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Despite having full access to technology that can track down someone who scammed you, the reality is that it’s still exhausting work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scouring the internet for information about a scammer also doesn\u2019t guarantee success. That\u2019s why many scam victims often hire a professional to handle it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Private investigators can travel and conduct personal interviews with other victims to find leads. They can directly check references and public records and execute surveillance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They may also work with techie assistants who can locate a scammer’s IP address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bottom line is that the investigator has an arsenal of resources, experience, and specialized knowledge that he can use to track down the scammer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The methods mentioned in this section are just some of the best ways to track down a scammer. However, it is still important to be vigilant about meeting people online. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Protect Yourself from Scammers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best offense is a good defense. In this case, it\u2019s making sure to avoid further loss from your side and tightening your security to avoid getting scammed again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are other tips that may help protect you from scammers: <\/p>\n\n\n\n