Recover From Money Scam: Things to Do if You Get Scammed?
Internet fraud is a sort of cybercrime fraud or deception that involves the concealment of information or the provision of false information with the intent of defrauding victims of money, property, or inheritance.
Contrary to popular belief, financial scams do not only affect the most vulnerable or naive among us. Investment fraud victims were more likely than investors, in general, to have at least a four-year college degree and earn more than $50,000 per year, according to a 2017 survey by the AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
Despite having access to a multitude of information on how to recognize and prevent scammers, many individuals are still duped. What should you do if you find yourself among them?
Listen to Your Suspicions
It could be an indication that something is wrong if the individual you’ve been interacting with stops returning your calls. If you aren’t receiving regular account statements, or if your statements indicate unexplained losses or constant returns despite market fluctuations, these could also be indicators. When it comes to withdrawals, if you get the runaround, your money could be long gone.
Make Careful Notes and Save the Evidence
Write down your story as soon as you realize you’ve been duped. Investigations can take a long time, and even if you believe you’ll recall everything, your memory may be hazy. Keep copies of all account statements, as well as canceled checks, e-mails, and other relevant documents. For example, canceled checks could aid investigators in determining where the money was put.
Whatever you do, don’t invest any additional money in a deal you’ve been suspicious of. You would think you’d never do something like that, but Walsh claims it occurs all the time. Keep in mind that these are masters of persuasion.
Report It to the Authorities
You’d be astonished at how many scam victims keep their losses to themselves, and the excuses they provide. Only 35% of financial fraud victims reported the occurrence to authorities, according to a 2015 poll by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. Respondents to the survey cited four primary reasons for their apprehension: 48 percent said it wouldn’t make a difference, 35 percent said they just wanted to get it over with, 29 percent said they were humiliated, and 26 percent said they didn’t know where to turn.
To recover your assets, you should immediately call a fund recovery firm like EzChargeBack, which is experienced in recovering funds in a quick and easy manner. They have a staff of professionals that have been trained to investigate and create your case. They next go to the fraud-committing company and present them with the case facts in the hopes that they would give in and return the money you were defrauded of. If that fails, all legitimate recovery organizations turn to financial institutions to address the situation.
Don’t Blame Yourself
Even if you overlooked what now appear to be glaring red flags, you aren’t the first and, unfortunately, you won’t be the last to do so. Knowing you’re being conned is really difficult at the moment. As a result, don’t be too hard on yourself. Remember: the only thing you did wrong was to trust someone to be honest, and that tells a lot about your character. So, please pardon yourself.
