Online Scam Investigations look into investment, romance, rental, shopping and crypto scams by tracing websites, accounts and payment trails. Send one request and independent investigators reply with availability and prices.
Describe the scam and how you paid, and get online scam investigation quotes.
Request a Private Investigation QuoteWhat It Involves
- Website and profile checks. Domain registration, hosting and linked profiles.
- Payment trail. Where money went, for your bank and SAPS to act on.
- Pattern matching. Links to known scams and other victims.
- Case file. An organised record for SAPS, your bank or an attorney.
Who It Helps
People who paid for goods, rentals or investments that never arrived, and businesses checking a supplier or website before paying.
What to Send First
- How you were contacted and the platform used.
- How much you paid, how and when.
- Your SAPS case number, if you have one.
Do not upload screenshots, intimate images, passwords or documents through the request form. The investigator will tell you what to keep and how to hand it over.
How It Works
- Act fast. Contact your bank and report to SAPS straight away.
- Review. The investigator reviews your messages, payments and the scam website.
- Tracing. Open sources and payment information are followed.
- Report. You get findings and a case file for the authorities.
Findings and Reporting
A report on who is likely behind the scam, where funds went and which accounts are linked, to support a SAPS case or civil claim.
Limits
Bank and platform records of other people need a court order or SAPS request. Investigators cannot hack or intercept anything. Scammers often operate from abroad, and recovery of money is not guaranteed. Be wary of anyone who promises to recover funds for an upfront fee.
Online Scam Investigations Prices
Ballpark prices so you can sanity-check a quotation.
| Item | Ballpark price |
|---|---|
| Website or seller verification before you pay | R1,500 - R5,000 |
| Scam review and case file for SAPS or bank | R3,500 - R10,000 |
| Full scam investigation, per case | R5,000 - R25,000 |
| Investigator hourly rate | R500 - R2,000 per hour |
Prices JUST UPDATED. Indicative ballpark figures in rand, rounded. They are compiled from prices published by South African investigation firms and typical market rates. They are not our prices or quotations, and no investigator is bound by them. Confirm VAT, travel and what each quotation includes.
Get prices for your case rather than a range. Send one request, with no obligation.
Request a Private Investigation QuoteWhat Affects the Price
- Amount and complexity. Multiple payments and accounts take longer to trace.
- Crypto. Blockchain tracing is specialist work.
- Foreign links. Overseas operators add time and cost.
- Legal follow-up. Support for civil claims is quoted separately.
Online Scam Investigations FAQs
Can I get my money back?
Sometimes, if the bank acts quickly or funds are frozen. Nobody can guarantee recovery.
What should I do first?
Call your bank, open a SAPS case, and keep every message and payment record.
Are recovery agents legitimate?
Be careful. Many recovery offers are a second scam. Never pay a fee based on a promised recovery.
Can you check a website before I pay?
Yes. A quick verification of the seller or site is cheaper than investigating a loss.
Related Services
Request online scam investigation quotes through Private Investigators South Africa and compare how each investigator traces payments and reports findings.
Private Investigators South Africa is a referral and quote service. We do not carry out investigations and we do not employ investigators. Work is quoted and carried out by independent investigators, and your agreement is with the one you choose. Ask for a written quotation and proof of PSIRA registration before you pay a deposit. No investigator can promise a particular result or that evidence will be accepted by a court.
Online Scam Investigations. Describe what you need once and get the best quote, fast.
Request a Private Investigation QuoteGet the Best Quote, Fast
Keep it brief. Do not send ID documents, passwords, intimate images or evidence through this form. Your enquiry is passed only to investigators suited to the job, and you decide whether to go ahead.
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