Scammed Online?

So you’ve been scammed… Me too! And guess what, I got my money back! You need to read this fast because you need to act fast.

First and foremost, there are two things you can do right now to help your situation.

1. Call your bank or credit card company immediately after you realize you have been scammed.
2. Call your Police non-emergency number and file a report. Explain your situation and see what they can do for you. Filing a report is a good idea in case you need to provide it to your bank and/or credit card and credit agencies (depending on your circumstances).

I’m writing this tutorial because I was recently scammed in a domain sale at SitePoint.com. I paid $275 via Paypal for a certain domain name promised to me at Sitepoint.com. Once I sent payment, the “seller” (let’s call him Mr. McScammer) private messaged me and said that he was going to go to dinner and send the domain after he gets back. Red flag #1.

I’ll admit that I fell into this scam partly due to my ignorance. The best thing you can do to prevent this kind of nonsense is simply keep caution when you participate in ANY online transaction. Although there are times where you just get caught up in a shady transaction. I’m not calling you stupid, you can be the judge of that. Either way, there’s hope. Read on.

“How do I get my money back if I’ve been scammed online?”

Step number 1:

How did you pay? If you paid via Paypal like I did, log into your account and view the details of the payment you just sent. Scroll down and find where it says:

Need help? If you have problems with a transaction or would like assistance settling a dispute with your seller, visit the Resolution Center. PayPal strongly recommends attempting to resolve this issue directly with the merchant or seller whenever possible.

Click ‘Resolution Center’ and open a dispute. Do whatever you need to do, write whatever you need to write to get the dispute open. The point is to get the dispute opened ASAP.

Step number 2:

Call or go to your nearest bank location. Don’t hesitate with this, time is crucial. I was lucky enough to get this taken care of in time. I actually emailed at first (not smart), then they told me to call them.

Speak to one of your bank representatives and explain your situation. I told my bank that I was recently scammed out of $275 and would like to issue a Stop Payment. This is what you need to get as well. They should give you a “dispute form” of some sort. If you’re at the bank in person, have them walk you through it. The form they give you is a legal contract that you’ll want to carefully fill out. Basically the Stop Payment does exactly what it’s titled, it stops the payment from your bank to whoever (in this case Paypal). Your bank will most likely charge you a fee to do this (mine was $25). You will also need to get this notarized if they can’t do it for you. Since I wasn’t at my physical bank in person, I had to go to UPS and have them notarize it for $10. Just do this as fast as you can and don’t think twice about the fees. It’s worth it assuming you’ve been scammed out of a decent amount of money.

Stay in contact with your bank. Just make sure they’re processing the form as soon as possible. They should be doing all they can to help you. If you get scammed, they get scammed in a sense.

Step number 3:

You’ve now done all you can do really. From here, I do my best to in any way try to contact the actual scammer and tell him/her that you’re willing to escalate the situation with legal action if your money isn’t returned within 24 hours. Don’t give them more than 24 hours. If they don’t give it back to you within that amount of time, they’ll never give it back most likely. DO NOT BEG. Depending on the amount at stake, it may be tempting to get on your hands and knees and beg for your money back. It won’t work. You expect that it will? Scammers have no heart. I don’t even consider them real people :). Overall, keep your cool. Your bank will now take care of it.

You might have to wait between 24-72 hours for the stop payment to take affect. Once it does, Paypal should email you a message like this:

Dear Your Name,

You recently attempted to transfer funds from your bank account to your PayPal account.

Your bank has declined the funds transfer.

We were unable to cover your payment to scammers@emailaddress.com with funds from your PayPal balance.
While this transaction had already been flagged as unauthorized, our external processor could not be prevented from completing the representment process. Your Back-up Funding Source will not be charged to make up the funds. This could mean that your PayPal account balance will go negative, but this is merely an interim accounting step that will be corrected when we have completed our review of this transaction.
For current information on your account balance and transaction history, please login to your PayPal account.

Don’t freak out. This is a good thing. Paypal is saying that your bank has declined the transfer of funds for the transaction specified in the Stop Payment Dispute form you filled out from your bank.

Paypal will most likely limit your account access due to the situation involving fraud. You’ll need to change your password, security question, and confirm you’re really you by having them call you and enter a PIN number they give you. It’s just a security procedure. Do that and you’re account will be back to normal.

That’s all I had to do to get my money back. I ended up having to pay a total of $35 for the notary and Stop Payment fee from the bank.

What To Do If You Were Scammed Online

Immediate Actions

1. Stop All Contact – Immediately cease all forms of communication with the scammer. Do not reply to emails, texts, or any other messages. The more you interact, the more information they can gather to use against you.
2. Screenshot Evidence – Take screenshots or record all conversations, emails, text messages, or other types of correspondence you’ve had with the scammer. This will serve as evidence should you choose to file a report or take legal action.
3. Report to Payment Services – Contact the payment service you used to send the money, such as PayPal, credit card companies, or wire services. Alert them about the scam and inquire about the possibility of reversing the transaction. Each service has its own procedure for handling scams.
4. Notify Your Bank – If your bank account details were involved in the scam, call your bank immediately. They can guide you on the next steps, which may include freezing your account, reversing transactions, or setting up additional security measures.
5. Change Passwords – Change the passwords for all your important online accounts starting with your email. Make sure to use strong, unique passwords to prevent unauthorized access.
6. Run Security Scans – Perform a comprehensive security scan on your computer and other devices to ensure there is no malware or spyware installed. Use reputable security software for this scan.

Reporting the Scam

1. File a Police Report – Visit your local police station to file a formal report. Provide them with all the evidence you’ve collected, such as screenshots and transaction details.
2. Online Reporting Portals – You can report online scams to national and international organizations like the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Complaint Assistant or the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Some countries have specific platforms for reporting cybercrimes.
3. Report to Online Platforms – If the scam occurred on a particular platform, website, or app, report the user there. They may be able to suspend or ban the scammer’s account.

Recovering Your Money

1. Seek Legal Advice – Consult with a legal advisor to understand your rights and options for recovering your lost funds.
2. Monitor Accounts – Regularly check your bank statements and credit reports for any suspicious activity or unauthorized transactions. Report anything unusual immediately.
3. Credit Monitoring Services – Consider using a credit monitoring service to alert you to changes in your credit report, which could signify unauthorized use of your identity.
4. Educate and Alert – Inform your family and friends about the scam and how it operated so that they can protect themselves.
5. Counseling and Support – Being scammed can be emotionally draining. Support groups and counseling services can offer emotional and psychological support.

Preventing Scams

1. Be Cautious – Always be cautious when dealing with unknown or unverified individuals or organizations online.
2. Verify Information – Before making transactions or sharing personal information, do your due diligence to verify the authenticity of websites or individuals.
3. Keep Software Updated – Ensure that the operating system and security software on your devices are up-to-date to protect against vulnerabilities.
4. Two-Factor Authentication – Enable two-factor authentication for your online accounts to add an extra layer of security.
5. Educate Others – Spread awareness about online scams and their common tactics. The more people know, the less likely they are to fall for scams.

Some additional tips for you:

Preventive Measures

Verify the Seller or Website

Before engaging in any online transaction, take a moment to verify the legitimacy of the seller or website. Look for reviews, ratings, or any red flags that might indicate a scam. Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Secure Payment Methods

Always use secure payment methods when making online transactions. Avoid wire transfers or other methods that don’t offer protection against fraud. Familiarize yourself with the protection policies of platforms like PayPal, which can be a safeguard against scams.

 

Documentation

Keep Records

Maintain a detailed record of all communications and transactions related to the case. Screenshots, email correspondence, and transaction receipts can serve as evidence if you decide to file a dispute or take legal action.

 

Legal Avenues

Exploring Legal Options

In cases involving substantial amounts, you might consider exploring legal avenues to recover your money. Consult with a legal expert to understand your options and the steps involved in pursuing a case against the scammer.

 

Credit Agencies

Reporting to Credit Agencies

If you’ve been a victim of a scam, reporting the incident to credit agencies such as Equifax, TransUnion and Experian can be a step towards resolving the issue. These agencies can potentially assist in investigating the matter and might offer guidance on how to proceed.

 

Support Groups and Forums

Community Support

Join online communities or support groups where you can share your experiences and learn from others who have faced similar situations. These platforms can offer support, advice, and sometimes even assist in tracking down scammers.

I hope this helps at least ONE person. If it does then this article is deemed useful. Good luck to everyone.

Stay safe, stay smart.