Report fully and protect against the next attempt

    Once you've paid a scammer, your details get re-targeted — assume more attempts are coming.

    JDCS
    By Jordan Dickson · Reviewed by CSG Security Engineers

    Updated June 2026 · 1 min read

    Paid victims are added to scammer 'sucker lists' that get sold and reworked. Treating this as the start of an ongoing campaign — not an isolated event — is realistic.

    Recovery scam warning

    Important

    Anyone who calls or messages 'we can recover your money for a fee' is almost always running a follow-up scam. Real recovery happens through your bank, card issuer or police — never via cold contact.

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    JD

    Written by

    Jordan Dickson

    Founder, CyberSecurityGuides

    Founder of CyberSecurityGuides, writing practical, jargon-free guides that help everyday people recover from and protect against online attacks.

    Reviewed by CSG Security Engineers

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