How To Track Someone Down
Being scammed can truly be a frustrating situation to go through, and it is completely normal to feel overwhelmed by everything that has happened. Trying to understand who would do this to you can be complex and confusing. The silver lining is, you don’t have to face this all on your own. With the right approach, and some assistance, you can start taking steps to track down the individual behind it all.
That is why Cybertrace has put together a set of guidelines to assist you in simplifying the process of collecting information and collaborating with either law enforcement agencies or private investigators, to potentially hold the scammer accountable for their actions.
Collecting Evidence
The first step when dealing with a scam is to document the details right away. It may seem overwhelming, but it is crucial for building your case. And it is much easier to start compiling evidence when everything is fresh, instead of trying to recount the events down the track.
Begin by creating a document on your computer or simply grabbing a notebook and recalling how the scam began. Did the scammer initiate contact through WhatsApp? Maybe, via Instagram, Facebook, or a dating platform? Make notes on how the scammer reached out to you and when.
In recent months we’ve seen a big increase in scammers using adverts on major trusted platforms like Facebook and Google to lure victims into investment fraud. List down the name that this individual used and any contact details provided such as phone numbers, email addresses or even website links the scammer shared with you.
If the scammer contacts you through WhatsApp, email, or any other messaging and social media platform, it is important to keep records of all conversations. Screenshots are handy in these situations, but just make sure they’re clear and include timestamps, so you can easily back track when needed.
Don’t forget to take screenshot’s of the scammer’s online profiles too! This will be beneficial as scammers often delete their profiles, or change public details to cover their tracks. Likewise, many scams used sophisticated fake trading websites. Eventually the website will be shut down either by victims, a government agency or the scammers may just close shop and move onto the next scam operation. Ensure you collect screenshots from within the fake trading account.
It may come in handy to save these screenshots in a relevant folder to your case, for easy access later. Having these records easily accessible will be useful in the case of providing evidence to local authorities, private investigators, or even at court.
Timeline Of Events
Lastly, in terms of collecting evidence, write down a timeline of events. We cannot recommend this enough. For serious fraud cases, where the victim engages experts to investigate and the scammer is identified, moving forward with legal action or reporting the case and evidence to law enforcement in another country may be the next step.
Normally, at this stage in the asset recovery process, the victim will be required to work with a professional to record a victim statement in the form of an affidavit. Fraud investigations can take time, so it is much easier to accurately recount what took place as soon as you realise you have been scammed.
Reverse Image Searches
Now, if you want to see what you can achieve first without relying on the help of the Police or engaging fraud investigators, here’s some simple ideas. If the scammer shared their photo with you, you can check where else the image is circulating online, or if it belongs to a victim of identity theft. You can upload the images to a free search tool like Google Images.
It is good to try a reverse image search to help you out but remember that it might not always lead you straight to the scammer. Instead, it will likely just reveal who the photo truly belongs too, without actually exposing the real identity of the scammer. It may not solve the puzzle right away but it can be a valuable step in uncovering more behind the scam or even just confirming the person is not who they claim to be.
Utilise Online Tracking Tools
If you want to know more about the contact information given to you by a scammer, online tracking tools can help. One example is Cybertrace’s Phone Number Search which is a paid tool that can provide in-depth details about a phone number.
This tool is accessible globally and can provide hidden details such as the name or Caller ID tied to the phone number, usernames linked to social media accounts, profile pictures, and even websites or platforms it’s connected to. Our tool can also reveal related contact details, such as partially visible email addresses, giving you helpful clues about who might really be behind the phone number.
However, this tool works really well for real people. Real people who have a normal phone number and it is linked to their online accounts, name and social media profiles. Many scammers are very clever in how they register and use phone numbers. Commonly the offender will register a VoIP phone number (it operates through the internet) and they don’t use this as their real number of course. So if it is not linked to any websites, platforms or online accounts, then nothing more will be discovered.
Reporting The Scam
It is vital that you compile all of your evidence and report it to the relevant authorities as soon as possible. Ideally, they will respond in a timely manner, investigate your case, recover your funds and bring the scammer to justice. However, many people all around the world do not get the assistance they need from law enforcement. Scams are a global issue and even getting a case accepted by the Police can sometimes be challenging.
If authorities are not able to investigate quickly, by notifying them they are at the very least obligated to keep statistics on scam rates which can in turn assist regulatory bodies in being more responsive.
Furthermore, reporting can actually assist with finding emotional and mental closure after being scammed; the act of handing it onto someone else can bring a real sense of relief. Whilst embarrassment can come with being scammed, we always recommend talking about it, whether to your friends and family or law enforcement.
For victims in Australia, it is recommended to report the scam to ReportCyber, a government service that forwards your case to relevant agencies, such as law enforcement, for further investigation.
If you are concerned about your personal information that may have been shared, such as your ID or sensitive details, it is important to take all possible precautions. IDCARE offers free support to protect against identity theft, and Services Australia can assist if government services or benefits are involved.
If you’ve been the victim of a tax or investment-related scam, contact the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) for assistance and guidance.
The mentioned resources are provided to Australians, however many countries have similar support services to assist scam victims.
Need Help Tracking Down Someone? Engage Cybertrace
Dealing with being scammed can feel extremely overwhelming, not to mention highly distressing. These feelings can be compounded by the reality that law enforcement agencies’ resources are often too stretched to respond in a manner that is timely enough.
This is where Cybertrace can step in and fill the gap. Unrestrained by bureaucracy, our team has all the tools and necessary experience to track down scammers and assemble evidence that the police or a lawyer can then use to pursue the offender further.
The Cybertrace team is highly skilled in mapping and documenting the scam as it was perpetrated against you. We understand how to compile evidence so that it is compelling in courts of law. We can also advise on the next steps you need to take for the best chance at having your funds returned and getting justice.
Recovery money lost to a scam is not an easy and quick process, and it is important that scam victims understand the complexities. Often these types of cases take a lot of work. If you’d like to read about a case study of a past client, you can read Mark’s story here.
**This post was revised and republished on the 28th of November 2024 for improved readability and accuracy.
