If you have been the victim of an online scam, online fraud, a criminal internet scam or some other sort of internet fraud, please call us here at Revision Legal. We can help fight against cyber-crime scammers and fraudsters.

You will need experienced internet scam lawyers because, first, you need lawyers with deep experience with online scam laws and, second, you need the expertise of internet lawyers who know how to use the legal rules and procedures to conduct the investigations necessary to identify the scammers. The largest hurdle to vindicating the rights of victims is the fact that most internet scams are done by anonymous actors. Through subpoenas and other legal discovery tools and methods, we can help identify the scammers and locate them in the real world. At that point, the weight and power of the justice system can be properly focused and targeted even if they are located in Europe, Africa, or other parts of the world.

There are many types of internet and online scams. Online scam examples include:

• Phishing — using real-looking (but fake) login screens and fields to steal passwords, accounts names and credential
• Phony bills and invoices — these types of scams include sending a phony invoice, bill or some other alleged payment obligations (like a fake claim that you owe for a fraudulent parking ticket)
• Malware — these scams damage, lock or steal your system information leading to cyber-blackmail or having your system held hostage
• Fake lotteries, inheritances and the like — these online scams are very common where you are contacted and told you’ve won the lottery (or something similar), but you have to send some money for “administrative fees” (or something similar)
• Phony “relative-needs-money” scams — there are many variations on this type of scam including where victims are contacted and asked to pay money for a supposed relative who needs emergency money for a “hospital bill” or “for bail” or something similar
• Fake online sales scams — these online scams are also common where victims are induced to purchase a product or service that does not exist; because payment information is often provided, often, more than money is stolen than just the purchase price of the fake products
• Fraudulent online “auctions” — many online “auction” sites are riddled with fraud with fake “customers” pretending to bid up the price of some item being offered for sale
• Online dating scams — these come in two main types: false and fake dating websites used to collect membership or use fees and false and fake users on legitimate sites whose intent is to find a “mark” to fleece
• Hacking — these scams use sophisticated techniques to hack email and social media accounts to gain access to financial accounts or engage in phishing

What Can be Done?

First, if you have been a victim, know that you have legal rights and you CAN fight back. Second, let go of any embarrassment. Lots of people have fallen victim to online scams. Third, as noted, you need to hire experienced internet scam attorneys. We can help you evaluate your case and options.

Contact Revision Legal

For more information, contact the trusted internet lawyers at Revision Legal.You can contact us through the form on this page or call (855) 473-8474. We are lawyers specializing in internet law.

Federal and State Laws That Govern Online Fraud

Online scams and internet fraud are not merely civil wrongs — they are federal crimes. The primary federal statutes include the Wire Fraud Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1343, which prohibits use of wire communications in any scheme to defraud and carries penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment per count. The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), 18 U.S.C. § 1030, covers unauthorized access to computer systems and can be used as both a criminal and civil statute. The CAN-SPAM Act, 15 U.S.C. § 7701 et seq., regulates fraudulent commercial email. Victims of internet fraud may also have claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), 18 U.S.C. § 1961 et seq., which allows private litigants to recover treble damages and attorneys’ fees when the fraud constitutes a pattern of racketeering activity.

At the state level, most states have computer crime statutes, consumer protection acts, and general fraud laws that create civil causes of action for online scam victims. Michigan, for example, has the Michigan Consumer Protection Act (MCPA), MCL § 445.901 et seq., which prohibits unfair, unconscionable, or deceptive trade practices and allows recovery of actual damages plus attorney fees. Similar statutes exist in virtually every state.

How Internet Scam Lawyers Identify Anonymous Fraudsters

The biggest practical challenge in online scam cases is that perpetrators typically operate anonymously or use false identities. Experienced internet fraud attorneys use a combination of legal process and investigative techniques to pierce through that anonymity:

• John Doe litigation — filing suit against unnamed defendants allows attorneys to obtain court-authorized subpoenas compelling platforms, payment processors, and ISPs to disclose account information tied to the scam
• IP address tracing — subpoenas to internet service providers can link IP addresses to real-world identities and physical locations
• Payment processor subpoenas — fraudsters often use PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or wire transfers; these companies maintain account and identity records responsive to valid legal process
• Cryptocurrency tracing — even cryptocurrency transactions leave a blockchain trail; forensic blockchain analysis firms can trace wallets to exchanges that hold know-your-customer (KYC) identity data
• International mutual legal assistance — for scammers located overseas, attorneys can coordinate with law enforcement agencies that have mutual legal assistance treaties (MLATs) with foreign governments

Civil Remedies and What You Can Recover

Once the perpetrators are identified and served, a civil lawsuit can seek multiple forms of relief. Compensatory damages cover the direct financial losses from the scam — the money paid, the value of stolen credentials, and any downstream losses. Under RICO, if a pattern of fraud can be established, the law allows treble damages — three times your actual losses — plus recovery of attorneys’ fees. Courts can also issue asset freezes (temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions) to prevent fraudsters from dissipating assets before judgment. In cases involving ongoing scam operations, courts may issue permanent injunctions shutting down the fraudulent enterprise entirely. Your attorney may also be able to coordinate with the FBI, FTC, or Secret Service — whose Electronic Crimes Task Forces handle internet fraud — to run parallel criminal and civil proceedings.

Steps to Take Immediately After Discovering You Have Been Scammed

Time is critical. The moment you discover an internet scam, take these steps:

• Preserve all evidence — screenshots, emails, chat logs, receipts, transaction records, and account information
• Report the fraud to your bank or payment processor immediately and request a chargeback or reversal
• File a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
• Do not contact the scammer directly, as this can tip them off and allow them to destroy evidence or flee
• Contact an internet fraud attorney to evaluate your legal options and begin the process of identifying and pursuing the perpetrators

At Revision Legal, our internet lawyers have experience pursuing online scammers and fraudsters through every available legal channel. Call us today for a consultation.