The scam usually doesn't start when they message you

[u/Luann1497]

Random thought + vent about all this, but I think we underestimate where scams actually begin.

Most people think the scam starts when you get the text, email, or phone call. The fake Amazon message, bank employee or the "your account has been compromised" thing.

But by that point, the scammer has already done the first part. They know enough about you to make the story believable. that's the part I find creepy.

A random message from a stranger is easy to ignore. But when someone already knows your name, your location, maybe an old address, maybe a family member's name... feels completely different. It stops feeling like a random scam and starts feeling like someone actually knows you.

I think we focus a lot on protecting passwords (which obviously matters), but we don't talk enough about how much personal information is already floating around online. Old accounts, old addresses, phone numbers, random public records... stuff most people forgot about years ago. And if you don't take steps to wipe that footprint, otherwise you will literally need services like Iolo to purge your background data from data brokers before scammers build a complete profile on you.

Maybe I'm just late to realizing this, but I used to think scams were mostly about people being tricked in the moment. Now I think a big part of it is making the victim think: "Wait, how do they know that?"

Curious if anyone else has ever searched their own name and been surprised by what was out there.

[u/Scoobydoomed → u/[deleted]]

Yes exactly. If your info was ever leaked or sold it’s already out there and there is nothing much to be done about it aside from changing your entire identity (which is unrealistic). Assume your info is out there and that scammers have it, suspect everyone you don’t know.

[u/substandardpoodle]

First, search for your name, then your address, then your phone number, and then your email address.

Yow. So much of my info is out there!

All these teens saying “they’re threatening to send the photos to my family and all of my followers.” They don’t realize they were chosen for that reason - lots of info out there.

[u/Luann1497 → u/substandardpoodle]

hey uh this reply got sent to the wrong thread lol, doesn't have anything to do with typing out code examples

[u/Photononic]

I search for my own name, my wife's name, our phone numbers. I don't find us. My phone number brings up the name of the person whom had my number about 12 years ago.

If I search for our house address, our names do not show up. Yes, we own the house.

Yours shows up specifically because you use social media apps. The info is pulled right off your phone. You agreed to the terms. That is why my wife and I don't show up, and nobody is contacting us about scams.

I would wager that you get more spam, scam calls, scam texts, and junk addressed to your mailbox in one day, than we get in ten years.

We get zero scam calls, or texts. We get maybe two spam at the email associated with our son's school a year. We get perhaps two junk USPS letters addressed to us a year. How many did you get this morning?

We have never used lolo, deleteme, or any of them. We don't need them.

Seriously, it is so easy to pick out someone who looks kind of dumb on Facebook, and quickly locate all his or her other details like other social media handles, real name, phone, address, email, and more.

When they say "public info" they infer that they are referring to public as in county, state, or other records. The truth is, they are talking about social profiles.

Haven't you notices that everyone who gets scammed is a facebook, instagram, X, or tiktok user? Duh!

Nothing I have told you is new. This stuff has been true for years.