A few days ago, I was scammed through a WhatsApp conversation and a significant amount of money was involved. I still have access to the chat, and the person doesn't seem to realize that I know what happened. I'm in Argentina, and the other person may be as well. Is there any legitimate way to identify or locate them, or recover the money?
4 Answers
Trying to obtain their IP address probably won’t help. WhatsApp doesn’t provide that information directly, and an IP may be shared, change over time, or be hidden behind a VPN. Avoid sending tracking links or attempting to hack the account, since that could create legal problems for you.
File a formal cybercrime report with the appropriate Argentine authorities or local police, even if you’re concerned they won’t take it seriously. Quick reporting can sometimes help freeze funds before they are moved, and investigators can request records from banks and communication services through legal channels.
Report the scam immediately to your bank or payment provider and ask whether the transfer can be stopped, reversed, or flagged. Preserve the entire chat, phone number, payment receipts, account details, timestamps, and any files or links. Don’t delete or edit anything.
Keep communicating only if authorities advise you to, and don’t warn the scammer that you’re reporting them. Don’t send more money, click suspicious links, or share passwords, verification codes, or identity documents. Be cautious of anyone promising to recover the money for an upfront fee.
I was hoping there might be a way to identify the person myself, but I’ll collect the evidence and contact the bank and the relevant authorities instead.