Scammed Online? How to Recover Your Money & Prevention Tips
If you've been scammed online, the immediate steps are: gather evidence of the transfer, contact your bank to temporarily freeze the account, and then file a report at a police station about the fraudulent transfer within 72 hours.
"Being scammed online" is a problem that both customers and business owners should watch out for. Nowadays, many people have been tricked by online scammers using various tactics to deceive them into transferring money. On the other hand, business owners can also be fooled by fake transfer slips that are so well-made they are indistinguishable from real ones. In this article, we will explain what to do when you've been scammed online, including how to check a scammer's blacklist, to prevent potential damages.
Table of Contents
- Scammed Online, What Should You Do?
- How to Check for Online Scammers
- Filing a Police Report Against Scammers to Prevent Business Damage
Scammed Online, What Should You Do?
Whether you are a customer or a business owner, you can fall victim to online scams. Here's how to file a report when you've been scammed online:
File a Report as Soon as Possible
If you realize you've been tricked into transferring money—whether it's through a fake investment scheme, a task-based scam, an online sales scam, being scammed when buying online, or receiving a fake transfer slip from a customer—report it immediately.
Gather All Evidence
When you've been scammed online, collect all evidence, such as the fake slip, chat messages with the scammer, their username, shipping address, and any other evidence that can identify the scammer. Also, include a copy of your ID card when reporting the online scam to the police. If you cannot go to the station in person, you can also file a report online.
For business or shop owners worried about fake slips, you can prevent this problem by checking for incoming funds via Mobile Banking.
File an Online Report at thaipoliceonline.com
After gathering all the evidence and necessary documents for the report, immediately file a report on the website thaipoliceonline.com. You will need to register on the website first, then fill in details such as the date, time, and the platform where you were scammed. Attach the prepared evidence before confirming the online scam report for the officers to proceed.
If Money Was Transferred, Contact the Bank to Freeze the Account
If a scammer has tricked you into transferring money, immediately contact the destination bank of the online transaction to request a temporary freeze on the scammer's account. In the meantime, you must file a police report, stating that you "wish to press charges to the fullest extent of the law." Then, have the police issue an order to the bank to freeze the account for a specified period. If the scammed money has not yet been withdrawn, there is a high chance of getting it back.
Normally, a bank can freeze an account without a court order for 7 days from the date the fraudulent transfer was reported. If 7 days pass without an account-freezing order, the bank will lift the freeze immediately. However, if wrongdoing is confirmed, the legal process will continue.
Do Not Believe the Scammer's Excuses
If the scammer makes excuses, such as their account was used as a mule account by someone else or that they are trying to find the money to pay you back, do not be complacent. Thai law sets a statute of limitations for filing a complaint at no more than 3 months from the day you realized you were scammed. If you are soft-hearted and believe the scammer, the statute of limitations may expire, and you will be unable to press charges.
Furthermore, if there are multiple victims of the same fraudulent transfer, they should group together (at least 5-6 people) to file a report or go to the Crime Suppression Division, as it will then be considered a public fraud case, leading to a more severe penalty for the scammer.
How to Check for Online Scammers
To prevent being scammed online, you must be aware of scammers. Check their details before making any financial transaction. Here are two ways to check for scammers:
- Check for scammers who trick people into transferring money via Google
1. Go to google.com
2. Type the person's full name, account number, or phone number into the search box.
3. Press Search. If there is a history of online fraud reports or news about them being a scammer, the information will appear immediately.
- Check for scammers who trick people into transferring money via the Blacklistseller website
1. Go to blacklistseller.com
2. Click on "Check Account/Seller".
3. Enter information such as the account number or full name.
4. Click "Search". If the account you are about to transfer to belongs to a scammer, their fraud history will appear immediately.
Filing a Police Report Against Scammers to Prevent Business Damage
Being scammed online is a threat that can happen to both businesses and customers, as scammers use various tricks to deceive people into transferring money. Sometimes, scammers pose as customers and send fake slips. However, no matter how careful you are, there is always a chance of being scammed. Even if it happens just once, it can impact online sales because customers lose confidence in buying from or using the services of the shop online.
To build trust and reduce the risk of being scammed, KGP offers a multi-channel payment solution to facilitate easy and secure payments for shops and customers. Whether it's Meta Pay, QR Payment, Mobile Banking, credit/debit cards, Payment link, E-Wallet from TrueMoney Wallet, or ODD (Online Direct Debit) automatic account debit, we help build long-term credibility for your business.
KGP, Payment. Make It Smooth.
LinkedIn : Kasikorn Global Payment
References
1. What to do when you've been scammed but have already paid. (April 30, 2024). Office of Justice Affairs. https://justicechannel.org/read/law-in-topic/lawget-laboo
Related News/Articles
Follow Us