Seems to obviously be a scam.. need advice on possible outcome

How do you deal with a scammer?

Stop all contact with the scammer

Once you realise you are being scammed, do not continue the conversation. Hang up the phone. Don’t reply to emails or letters scammers have sent you. If you have been scammed online, block the scammer from contacting you.

How do I deal with being scammed out of money?

Here’s what the experts recommend you do as soon as you notice any suspicious activity or suspect that you have been scammed:

Notify your bank or credit card issuer. …
Consider filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. …
Document the details. …
Consider a credit freeze.

How to find out a scammer?

Four Signs That It’s a Scam

Scammers PRETEND to be from an organization you know. Scammers often pretend to be contacting you on behalf of the government. …
Scammers say there’s a PROBLEM or a PRIZE. …
Scammers PRESSURE you to act immediately. …
Scammers tell you to PAY in a specific way.

How do I know if I am talking to a scammer?

you don’t know contacts you out of the blue. you’ve never met in person asks for money. asks you to pay for something or to give them money through unusual payment methods such as gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrencies. asks you to pay for something in advance — especially through an unusual payment method.

What do you do if you think you have been scammed?

STOP CONTACT WITH THE SCAMMER.

Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.

Will my bank refund me if I get scammed?

If you paid by bank transfer or Direct Debit

Contact your bank immediately to let them know what’s happened and ask if you can get a refund. Most banks should reimburse you if you’ve transferred money to someone because of a scam.

How do you outsmart a catfish?

Here are five tips for outsmarting a catfish:

Research them. …
Ask them to meet face-to-face. …
Don’t fall for very early romance signs. …
Don’t offer the person money. …
Don’t share your personal data.

How do scammer know your name?

Spammers often release information-gathering programs called “bots” to collect the names and e-mail addresses of people who post to specific newsgroups. Bots can get this information from both recent and old posts.

What area codes should you not answer?

Unless you know that a call is legitimate, it’s best to avoid calls from the following international area codes with a +1-country code:

232: Sierra Leone.
242: Bahamas.
246: Barbados.
284: British Virgin Islands.
268: Antigua and Barbuda.
345: Cayman Islands.
441: Bermuda.
473: Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

What happens if I call back a scammer?

“It’s the concept that people think may have missed an important call.” At the very least, answering the phone or calling back makes you vulnerable to future scams, says Eva Velasquez, CEO and president of Identity Theft Resource Center.

What if a scammer has my phone number?

What to do if a scammer has your phone number. If the worst happens and a scammer gains access to your phone number, you still have options: Contact your service provider immediately and explain the situation. If need be, ask them to put a temporary freeze on your line so that scammers can’t use your number.

Can someone steal your identity with your phone number?

Yes. Your phone number is out there on the web in various locations. Scammers can use stolen cell phone numbers and use it for two-factor authentication codes and other access to all your texts, apps, and other online accounts, they could have your cell phone number hijacked and do it through SIM swapping.

What are 2 things you should do if your identity is stolen?

Sign up for credit monitoring.

Notify the company or agency that issued your stolen credentials. …
Put a freeze or fraud alert on your credit. …
Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission. …
File a report with your local law enforcement agency. …
Obtain copies of documents used to open accounts or make fraudulent transactions.

Can you be scammed just by answering the phone?

If you answer the call, your number is considered ‘good’ by the scammers, even if you don’t necessarily fall for the scam. They will try again because they know someone on the other side is a potential victim of fraud. The less you answer, the fewer robocalls you will receive.

Can someone hack my bank account with my phone number?

With your phone number, a hacker can start hijacking your accounts one by one by having a password reset sent to your phone. They can trick automated systems — like your bank — into thinking they’re you when you call customer service.

Do I get my money back if my bank account is hacked?

Banks are liable

If a hacker steals money from a bank, the customer won’t lose money since the bank is liable to refund money for fraudulent debit transactions. However, it’s important to report fraud as soon as possible, as the bank’s liability decreases over time.

What information does someone need to access your bank account?

What you need to open a bank account

A valid, government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or a passport. …
Other basic information, such as your birthdate, Social Security number or Taxpayer Identification Number, or phone number.
An initial deposit is required by some banks, too.

How do you know if someone else is using your phone number?

The surest sign that someone is using your number to make spoofed calls is if you start getting multiple calls or SMS responding to communication you never initiated. You might get texts asking who you are, or get calls from people demanding that you stop bothering them.

Can you tell if your phone is being monitored?

If someone is spying on your phone, you may see your device’s data usage increase, your phone may unexpectedly reboot or show signs of slowing down. You may also notice activity, such as your device’s screen lighting up when it is in standby mode. You may also notice your device’s battery life suddenly decreasing.

What number to call to find out if your phone is tapped?

*#21# When you dial *#21#, it will display the various sorts of diversion status which is happening with the number. This will display the information and you will come to know if your calls or messages are tapped.

Can someone else see what I’m doing on my phone?

Regardless of whether you use an iPhone or an Android smartphone, it is possible for someone to install spyware onto your phone that secretly tracks and reports on your activity. It’s even possible for someone to monitor your cell phone’s activity without ever even touching it.

How do I block my phone from being tracked?

On Android: Open the App Drawer, go into Settings, select Location, and then enter Google Location Settings. Here, you can turn off Location Reporting and Location History.

How do you know if someone is recording your call?

Type “history.google.com/history” into your web browser. On the lefthand menu, click ‘Activity controls’. Scroll down to the ‘Voice & Audio activity’ section and click that. There you’ll find a chronological list of all the voice and audio recordings which will include any recorded without you knowing.