The worst part of being scammed is not the money. It is the phone call that comes a few weeks later, from the man who says he can get it back for you.
He sounds kind. He sounds official. He might say he is with the FBI, a government office, or a law firm. He knows what happened to you, and he knows how much you lost.
If you have been through this, please hear me first: being targeted by professional criminals is not a sign that you are foolish. These are full-time crooks who do this all day. And the people who just took your money are often the same people calling back to take more.
🔍 What the "Recovery" Call Looks Like
The FBI put out a public warning in July that criminals are pretending to be FBI staff and the FBI's own online crime reporting office, called IC3. They use fake social media profiles, fake websites that look like the real one, and even computer generated videos of people dressed as agents.
The Federal Trade Commission warned in August that these crooks buy lists of people who have already been scammed. That is how they know your name, your story, and your number.
A call, text, email, or social media message says they have "found your money" or "caught the people who scammed you." To release it, you just need to pay a small fee, share your bank information so they can "deposit" the refund, or verify your identity. Once you do, the second scam is complete.
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🚩 Signs You Are Talking to the Second Scam
Real government offices do not reach out of the blue to offer to recover your money. The FBI says IC3 does not have a social media presence and will not contact you on Facebook, Telegram, or by phone to offer help.
A "retainer," "processing fee," "tax," or "administrative charge" before they can help. The FTC is clear: never pay up front for a refund or for help getting one.
They say they need your account number to send the refund. What they really want is access to your account.
Anyone can claim a title. The name on the call, the badge in the video, or the logo on the website can all be fake.
They say not to tell your family or your bank because it could "slow down the recovery." That secrecy protects them, not you.
✅ What to Do the Morning After a Scam
If you have just been scammed, here are the real next steps. None of them cost money.
Call the number on the back of your card. Tell them what happened and ask if the payment can be stopped or reversed. Ask them to watch your account.
If the scammer had any access to your computer, email, or accounts, change those passwords. Start with email and banking.
Type www.ic3.gov into your browser yourself. Do not click a link someone sent you, and skip anything labeled "sponsored" in a search. Make sure the address ends in .gov.
File a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. It helps investigators spot patterns.
A son, a daughter, a friend from church. You do not have to carry this alone, and a second set of eyes helps you spot the next call.
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Many of these scams start with someone pretending to be law enforcement, like the fake deputy scam hitting Smith County families. If your personal information may be out there now, it is also worth reading how to freeze your credit with all three credit bureaus. It is free and it keeps crooks from opening new accounts in your name.
📞 Where to Report and Get Help
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God Bless.
Robert
Owner, TechEase
"No jargon, no judgment, just patient help that makes sense."
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