The FBI warns about the increase in scams targeting vulnerable victims

Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the emotional state of victims of online fraud, increasing the harm at a moment of vulnerability.

According to the FBI, more than a hundred reports of these attacks have been received in the last two years.

Scammers create fake profiles on social media and join groups of other victims, claiming to have recovered their money with the help of the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), which lends credibility to their scam.

The FBI warns about fake recovery scams targeting fraud victims

One of the most common strategies involves contacting victims through different platforms, including emails, phone calls, social media, and forums.

Those who believe in these claims are directed to communicate with an individual who goes by the name Jaime Quin on Telegram. Quin presents himself as the Director of IC3, but in reality, he is part of the fraudulent scheme. Through this contact, he tells victims that he has recovered their funds and asks for access to their financial information, which can result in further theft.

The FBI has emphasized that the first contact by the scammers can vary, but almost all complainants report that they were promised the recovery of lost funds.

However, these promises are a deception that seeks to re-victimize those who have already suffered significant losses. To minimize the risk of falling into these traps, individuals are advised to only communicate with authorities through official channels and to never share passwords or sensitive financial information.

Security forces warn that it is unlikely they will contact you informally and, in no case, will they request sensitive information such as passwords or access to private services. It is vital to stay alert and protect yourself against these fraud attempts that seek to take advantage of people’s trust and vulnerability.