How To Identify and Track Online Scammers

Online scams are becoming increasingly prevalent and dangerous as more individuals and organizations use online platforms to pursue investment opportunities, conduct sales and acquisitions, and engage in general, personal, and business interactions. Internet scams can have devastating effects both on individuals and on companies of all sizes. In this article, we will explore some of the most common types of online scams and provide guidance on how to recognize a scam, track scammers to prevent further fraudulent activities, and possibly recoup some losses if you've become an unwitting victim.

Online Scams Explained

An online scam is any fraudulent activity carried out by an individual or group who uses the internet with the intent to deceive or steal from unsuspecting victims. The prevalence of online scamming has increased significantly in recent years. According to a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report, consumers lost over $1.9 billion to fraud in 2019, with government imposter scams and online scams being the leading scam categories. In 2025, online scams have only grown more sophisticated as scammers constantly evolve tactics to exploit new vulnerabilities — and new, unsuspecting victims.

Online scammers use many techniques to gain their targets' trust. Once the scammer has earned the victim's trust, they may request personal information, such as social security numbers, bank account information, and credit card numbers, or they may ask for money outright. Social engineering tactics can be used to create a sense of urgency or fear and pressure victims into making decisions without fully understanding the situation. The impact of online scams can be devastating, ranging from financial loss to identity theft and emotional distress.

Recent advancements in technology, including the use of AI to create hyper-realistic deepfake videos or voice clones, have added another layer of complexity to online scams. These tools allow scammers to impersonate trusted individuals with alarming accuracy, making it more challenging for victims to identify fraudulent activities.

While law enforcement agencies and other organizations are working to combat online scamming, it remains a significant challenge that requires continued vigilance and awareness from individuals. Because online scammers often operate anonymously from remote locations, it can be difficult for law enforcement agencies to track and prosecute them. This makes it all the more important for individuals to be aware of the signs of online scams and take steps to protect themselves from these fraudulent activities.

Types of Online Scams

Scammers use a range of tactics to trick their victims into providing personal information or money. Understanding the different types of scams and how they operate is essential to protecting yourself and your assets from these fraudulent activities.

Phishing Scams

Phishing scams involve the use of fraudulent emails, messages, or websites to trick individuals into providing personal information like login credentials or financial information. These scams often aim to create a sense of urgency or fear to pressure individuals into providing sensitive information. AI-generated phishing emails have become more sophisticated, using personalized information gathered from social media or data breaches to craft convincing messages that are harder to detect. In some instances, AI-generated emails are posed as an urgent request from a company's HR department asking employees to verify their account credentials. When employees fall victim, scammers have immediate, unauthorized access to sensitive company data.

Fake Websites

Fraudulent websites are designed to look like legitimate websites, such as online stores or financial institutions. Scammers create these sites to steal personal information or money from unsuspecting victims. These websites often use sophisticated graphics and designs to mimic the appearance of legitimate sites, making it difficult for individuals to distinguish between the two. Scammers are now utilizing advanced website cloning tools to make fake sites nearly identical to trusted ones — including the use of SSL certificates to appear secure. Fake e-commerce sites have been known to offer high-end electronics at deep discounts, tricking consumers into entering credit card details, and then disappearing after processing payments.

Tech Support Scams

Scams involving tech support issues involve scammers posing as official software representatives to trick individuals into providing remote access to their computers or paying for unnecessary services. These scams often use scare tactics, such as fake warnings about viruses or malware, to pressure individuals to act. Scammers are increasingly using pop-up ads or fake chatbots on legitimate-looking websites to initiate tech support scams. Sometimes, these kinds of scams take the form of a pop-up warning claiming a user's computer is infected. This prompts victims to call a "tech support" number, resulting in unauthorized charges and compromised devices.

Investment Scams

Investment scams involve scammers offering fraudulent investment opportunities to individuals with promises of high returns or low risk. These scams often involve complex schemes and use persuasive sales tactics to convince individuals to invest money that the scammer steals before disappearing. Cryptocurrency investment scams are currently on the rise, with scammers creating fake apps or platforms to lure victims. You may have seen news reports (especially if you follow the crypto market or industries like FinTech) about fake cryptocurrency exchanges promising guaranteed returns and then disappearing with millions in investor funds, leaving no trace of their operations. This isn't a reason to totally avoid the crypto market, but it is a reason to exercise caution and be smart about each move you make across the crypto landscape. 

Romance Scams

Romance scams involve the creation of fake identities on social media or dating websites to pursue relationships with individuals for the purpose of stealing money. These scammers often use false stories and flattery to gain their victim's trust before requesting financial assistance or personal information. These days, scammers are leveraging AI to create realistic avatars and videos, making their fake identities more convincing than ever. It's not uncommon for scammers to use an AI-generated avatar on a dating app to build a relationship before ultimately convincing the victim to transfer large sums of money.

Scamming Methods

Social Engineering Tactics

Social engineering tactics are manipulative measures scammers use to force an individual into divulging sensitive information or taking a particular action. This can involve the use of deception, flattery, or other psychological tactics to gain the trust of the victim and coerce them into doing something they wouldn't normally do.

AI Deepfakes and Voice Clones

In recent developments, the FTC has alerted the public to the increasing prevalence of scams that use AI. Scammers use AI to imitate the voice or likeness of a loved one and then call or text asking for help in a crisis. If you receive a call from a family member or friend asking for financial help, the FTC advises that you verify the legitimacy by using a known phone number to "call the person who supposedly contacted you and verify the story." If no one answers your call, "try to get in touch with them through another family member or their friends."

Malware and Viruses

Malware and viruses are software programs designed to infiltrate computer systems, steal sensitive information, or cause damage. These can be spread through malicious websites, email attachments or infected software downloads. Recently, ransomware attacks targeting small businesses have surged, with scammers demanding cryptocurrency payments in exchange for unlocking infected systems.

The Google Voice Scam

A development of particular interest to DealStream members is what the FTC calls "The Google Voice Scam." Scammers contact individuals with listings for sale on online marketplaces and begin a conversation as though they want to make a purchase. Instead of committing or following proper marketplace structures and safety channels (such as those put in place by DealStream), they claim to be wary of being scammed and ask to verify your identity by sending you a text with a Google Voice verification code that they ask you to give them. Once you give them the code, they use your number to create a Google Voice number linked to you. Then, the scammers use that number "to rip off other people and conceal their identity." Sometimes these scammers ask for more than a Google Voice verification code, and if they get enough of your information, "they could pretend to be you to access your accounts or open new accounts in your name."

Tracking Online Scammers

Tools to track online scammers can range from free or low-cost, to more involved and costly methods, but any of the following methods will benefit you and your online safety:

Reverse Image Search: Performing a reverse image search allows you to search for images across the internet, which can help to identify whether an image is being used by scammers for fraudulent purposes. This can be particularly useful in the case of romance scams, where scammers often use fake profile pictures to trick their victims.

IP Address Tracking: Identifying the IP address of the scammer can provide information about their location and potentially lead to their identification. IP tracking tools offer detailed location-based insights.

WHOIS Lookup: A WHOIS lookup provides information about the owner of a website, including their name and contact information. This tool is valuable for identifying fraudulent domains and reporting them.

Social Media Monitoring: Monitoring platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for suspicious activities can uncover scammer profiles or fraudulent schemes. Forums like Reddit and ScamAdviser are excellent resources for scam tracking and reporting.

Private Investigation Services: Hiring private investigators can be a last resort for individuals or businesses facing significant financial loss. Many investigators now use advanced digital tools to efficiently unearth scammer details.

Steps To Take If You Believe You've Been Scammed

1. Collect Information About the Scammer. Gather email addresses, phone numbers, IP addresses, and any relevant communications to build a detailed profile of the scammer.

2. Report the Scam. Alert the appropriate authorities, such as the FTC, FBI, or platforms like the Better Business Bureau’s ScamTracker.

3. Work With Your Financial Institutions. Contact your bank or credit card company immediately to report fraudulent activity and request a refund.

4. Engage with Online Communities. Join forums and networks like Reddit's r/scams or ScamWarners to share your experience and gather advice on further actions.

Final Thoughts

Recognizing and tracking online scammers requires vigilance and knowledge of different tools and methods. Understanding various online scams and steps to track scammers empowers you and increases your internet safety.

DealStream takes fraudulent activity very seriously and has instituted several safety mechanisms to protect our members. We also have a transparent and simple abuse report process and encourage members to report any suspicious activity to us, as well as the necessary authorities and financial institutions. Together, we can combat online fraud to protect ourselves and our communities from the harmful effects of cyber criminals and online scams.