Scam or NotScam No. 0142026-10-29
Is this text a scam?
SCAM
?(202) 555-0142
Text Message · Today 9:41
Transcript: Hello, this is Agent Daniel Reed with the Federal Fraud Recovery Unit. Good news. We have recovered the funds you lost in a recent scam. To release your refund today, you need to pay a small processing fee and confirm your bank details. Call us back at (202) 555-0142 or visit recover-funds.example now. This offer is time sensitive.
Recreated from the FBI IC3 PSA (Source 1), which describes scammers contacting people by phone call, claiming to have recovered lost funds, using urgency, and asking for payment or financial data.
3 red flags
- RED FLAG 1Found your lost moneyScammers claim they got your money back, but it's a ruse to scam you again.
Source: “Almost all complainants indicated the scammers claimed to have recovered the victim's lost funds or offered to assist in recovering funds. However, the claim is a ruse to revictimize those who have already lost money to scams.” link - RED FLAG 2Act now pressureScammers lean on fear and urgency to look legitimate.
Source: “Scammers rely on fear, urgency, and high-tech tricks like AI-generated video and caller ID spoofing to appear legitimate.” link - RED FLAG 3Pay a fee firstDon't send money to someone you have only met over the phone.
Source: “Do not send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other assets to people you do not know or have met only online or over the phone.” link
Safe move
Type www.ic3.gov yourself
Type www.ic3.gov straight into your browser's address bar instead of searching for it.
Source: “When navigating to IC3's official website, type www.ic3.gov directly into the address bar located at the top of your Internet browser, rather than using a search engine.” link
Type www.ic3.gov straight into your browser's address bar instead of searching for it.
Source: “When navigating to IC3's official website, type www.ic3.gov directly into the address bar located at the top of your Internet browser, rather than using a search engine.” link
Send this to the one who'd tap it.
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