Why Scammers Target the Same People Again and Again

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The Federal Trade Commission is warning people about a scam. Scammers call and text people who were scammed before, saying they can help get the money back. They send fake pictures of badges to look real.

If you were scammed once, you might be targeted again. A report found that many people who were scammed once are scammed again. Most of the time, scammers try to open new accounts in your name.

Get my free report on cybersecurity.

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Scammers use information from past scams to make new ones sound real.

Scammers keep track of who paid them before and how much money they got. This helps them make the next scam sound believable.

The Federal Trade Commission says scammers might call or text you, saying they can help you get your money back. But then they ask for money or personal information.

The FBI also warns that fake law firms target people who were scammed before, saying they can help get the money back. These scams take advantage of people who are already upset.

Scammers have lists of people who were scammed before. They buy and sell these lists because they think people who paid once might pay again.

This is why recovery scams can be convincing. If someone knows exactly what you lost, it might sound like they are real.

There was a big data breach in Texas that affected many people.

If someone steals your Social Security number, you can still be in danger even after you close the fake account.

You cannot easily get a new Social Security number. When someone uses your number to open an account, canceling the account does not fix the whole problem.

A bank can give you a new credit card number quickly, but getting a new Social Security number is harder.

A stolen Social Security number can be used in many ways, like to get a paycheck or open a loan.

Most identity theft involves someone opening a new account in your name. The Identity Theft Resource Center found that many people are targeted multiple times.

Checking your credit report occasionally might not be enough. You might miss an account that was opened recently.

Some services can monitor your credit and alert you if someone tries to open a new account in your name.

Fake recovery offers often ask for money or personal information upfront.

Before you trust someone who says they can get your money back, look for warning signs.

Do not pay anyone to recover your money. Real agencies do not ask for fees or personal information.

Scammers often ask you to pay in ways that are not safe, like with gift cards or cryptocurrency.

If someone knows exactly what you lost, they might have bought that information from a list.

Fake recovery firms might ask you to talk on other apps or give them access to your computer. Do not do this.

Some fake companies make fake websites and testimonials to look real.

Real help usually comes from official channels. Look up the agency and call them directly.

If someone contacts you with a suspicious offer, report it to the Federal Trade Commission or the FBI.

The free credit monitoring you get after a breach might not last long enough. Stolen information can still be used years later.

No service can stop all identity theft, but some can alert you to new accounts and help you fix the problem.

Identity theft protection services can help you respond to fraud and fix the damage.

See my tips on the best identity theft protection services.

If you were scammed once, you might be targeted again. The next scam might sound personal and convincing, but do not pay upfront or trust unknown numbers.

Have you been contacted by someone who says they can recover your money after a scam? Let us know.

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Tessa Hoyos works for Fox News Digital.

She joined Fox News Radio in 2024 and covered many topics.

Tessa graduated from Western Washington University.

You can reach her at tessa.hoyos@fox.com.

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