Shared by @Padme on https://aff.419eater.com/viewforum.php?f=6
Sites like 419Eater are dedicated to scambaiting. The moderators and members are not counselors, professional or otherwise. Although assistance and advice may be provided here, if you are a victim, we encourage you to visit similar sites such as https://www.scamwarners.com for further guidance.
If you are a victim of a scam, often the first reaction will be, "How do I get my money back?" It's a harsh reality, but the chances of any monetary recovery are infinitesimal. Establishing the true identity of the scammer may be nearly impossible, and even if it is established, they are usually in foreign countries where little may be done.
Beware: Scammers will attempt to scam you again, often using a new identity in what is known as a "Recovery Scam." They will promise to get your money back. Rest assured, their will be no money recovered, but there will be a future fee of some type.
If you think you may be dealing with a scammer, do a bit of research. Internet searches can be a big help if you use it to your advantage.
If you have their email address, do a search on this to see if they appear on any scammer listing sites. You might try searching the name they have provided, too.
If you have received long messages or emails, do a search on strange sayings or misspellings. Often, scammers work from scripts.
If they provide a phone number, do a search on this.
If the scammer has sent photos, try doing a search at:
https://images.google.com/
https://tineye.com/
https://yandex.com/images/
