If you've ever reported a scam or lost money to one, the FBI says you could now be targeted again — this time by someone promising to help you get your money back.
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) issued a public warning this week about scammers who specifically go after people who already filed a fraud report or lost money in the past. The pitch: they can help you recover what you lost. It's a second scam layered on top of the first one.
The FBI describes two versions of the trick. In one, someone messages you on Facebook Messenger or by email claiming to have an "update" on your IC3 report, then moves the conversation to Telegram and sends a link that actually collects your financial information. In the other, an AI-generated deepfake video shows someone posing as a senior FBI official, pointing you to a fake website designed to look like the real ic3.gov — but built to steal your personal details through a simplified "report" form.
Here's the key thing to remember: IC3 has no presence on social media, never contacts you first by phone, email, or chat, and never asks you to pay a fee to get your money back. If any of that happens, it's a scam.
A few ways to protect yourself: type www.ic3.gov into your browser yourself rather than clicking a link or a sponsored search result, and double-check it ends in .gov. If you're watching a video of someone claiming to be a government official, look for the usual deepfake tells — hands or faces that look slightly off, shadows that don't match, or a voice that lags behind the lips.
Want to learn more about spotting fakes like this? Read our guide on how to spot a deepfake video.