First of all, I want to clarify that I am sharing my story not to seek pity or judgment but rather to show the steps I took in the days following an online scam. Hopefully, it can inspire or help you if you find yourself in a similar situation.

The painful moments of reliving memories

After realizing I had been scammed, I decided to file a report. I sat down at my computer and re-read our conversations from the very beginning. I went through every word and started documenting the timeline of events in a Word document. Luckily, my phone had saved everything automatically, so I was able to create a detailed timeline and documentation of what had happened.

Google Images Search

The first step was to check all the images I had using Google Images. I wanted to know who the person behind the deception was! Without any metadata on the photos, this was no easy task, and I spent three days at my computer before I finally found the person whose pictures were used!

Friends and background research on the photos

Next, I tried to identify the friends in the pictures and looked at the signs, shops, and other details in the background. Eventually, in a 4-second moment in one of the friend’s videos, I recognized someone from the pictures, whom I had known as Dilan, but it was not him.

At this point, I was sure I had been scammed, and filing a report was the right decision! Let’s call the person whose pictures were used Daniel. I sent him a message on his public profile to inform him that his photos had been used without permission and that I would be filing a police report, in which I would provide his contact information. Daniel thanked me for the heads-up and gave me his phone number to assist with the report!

Police report and the in-person meeting

Since I live abroad, I asked a local friend to help me with the police report process. He called the police, explained the details of the case, and scheduled an appointment. We went in person to the appointment, where I handed over the printed materials I had gathered. The police asked me for the entire conversation and inquired whether I just wanted to report the theft of the images or also the person behind it. I decided: “I’ll file both reports.”

When I got home, the document was already waiting in my email inbox!

The case goes to the prosecutor’s office

The officer handling the case sent me further questions by email and then forwarded the case to the prosecutor’s office. While no promises were made about the outcome, I moved forward, knowing that every small step could help in identifying the perpetrators.

Throughout the filing process, no one ever made me feel like I was at fault or an “idiot for going there.” Instead, everyone genuinely wanted to help and reassured me that filing the report was the right decision!

The IC3 Website

With the report document in hand, I visited the IC3 website and filed a complaint about the case. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) operates in the United States and handles internet crime complaints.

You can file a complaint online, but to do so, you need the case number provided during the police report.

After filling it out, you receive a document you need to save, and then… you wait!

What you need to know about IC3

The Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3, operates in the U.S. and handles complaints about internet crimes. It was established in cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). The IC3’s goal is to support the investigation and prevention of online crimes. If someone falls victim to online fraud or other internet crimes, they can file a complaint with the IC3. The website allows for the submission of online complaints, and the IC3 helps victims with their cases. The collected information aids in investigations and tracking down criminals. It’s important to note that the IC3 mainly handles crimes committed within the United States, but through international cooperation, they can assist other countries’ authorities in such cases.

The importance of self-healing

Even though the legal system may not always produce quick or successful results, filing a report and taking these steps helped me heal. I found that taking action gave me the chance not to feel like just a victim. The final outcome may be uncertain, but knowing I did everything I could gave me inner strength and helped my soul turn in the right direction.

I encourage everyone not to be afraid to take action if they find themselves in a similar situation. Filing a report is an important step on the path to healing, even if the legal system responds slowly. Every step you take gives you a small weapon against such scams and helps you regain control over your life.

Through these steps, I tried to protect myself, and although it’s not guaranteed that the perpetrators will be held accountable or that my money will ever be recovered, I hope this story inspires others not to let themselves be taken advantage of and to take steps against these crimes.

To be continued!
Ada