ListCrawler Cartel Scam: A Guide To Recognizing And Stopping Extortion

Today’s topic: Listcrawler cartel scam!

The Listcrawler cartel scam has been a pervasive threat to people browsing online classifieds and adult service directories.

This predatory scheme generally involves scammers sending violent, graphic threats to users who have recently messaged an ad on the ListCrawler platform.

Early this year, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported an uptick in these “virtual cartel” threats, in which criminals pose as “bosses” of organized crime groups in order to extort money.

Currently, several investigations are looking into international call centers that scrape phone numbers from these public ads in order to run blackmail campaigns.

Legal experts have noted that while there have been some civil lawsuits placed against the platforms themselves for lack of moderation, consumer awareness, and immediate blocking remain the best defenses.

Due to the fact that many of these messages contain stolen images of violence specifically designed to panic people, it is important to remain calm and recognize that no one actually watches your home.

In this article, we will elaborate on the following:

• The psychological tactics used in the listcrawler cartel scam to induce fear.
• How scammers obtain your personal phone number and location data.
• The red flags that distinguish a fake cartel threat from a legitimate danger.
• Actionable steps to secure your digital footprint and report the extortion. 

What Is the ListCrawler Cartel Scam?

The listcrawler cartel scam is a particular type of social engineering, wherein a cybercriminal gets into contact with a person through a text message or WhatsApp, alleging that the person “wasted the time” of one of their girls.

They are said to be a Mexican or Central American cartel who ask for a “fine” so that they do not physically harm the person or their families.

The Origin Of The Threat

The scam begins the moment you reply to an ad posted through ListCrawler. Even if you never encounter the person, your phone number is now part of a database that scammers use to initiate their listcrawler cartel scam. Often, these are “spoofed” phone numbers, at least sounding like a local number.

Why The Cartel Angle Works

By feigning membership within this dangerous cartel, the attacker circumvents the process of negotiation, immediately going into intense intimidation.

The idea behind the listcrawler cartel scam is that, being ashamed of perusing such content, the target is reluctant to call the police.

How The Scammers Orchestrate The Attack

The modus operandi followed by these list crawler scam artists is surprisingly simple but efficient.

The scammers use computer software to gather information, after which a pre-programmed script intended to exert maximum psychological pressure is sent out.

Scraping Your Private Information

Once a scammer has your number using a listcrawler scam threat interaction, he uses people search sites to get your full name and home address. When he sends you the threat with your home address, it becomes terrifyingly real for a listcrawler cartel scam.

The Use Of Graphic Visuals

To increase the shock factor, the Cartel Scam often includes images of weapons or crime scenes on the listcrawler text message.

These images are almost always stolen from an old news report out of another country and are not related to the person text messaging you.

Identifying Red Flags In The Messages

Gaining insight into the mechanics of the listcrawler cartel scam will help individuals realize that they are not in real danger. This is due to the nature and approach utilized by these criminals, which is structured along a particular path.

Untraceable Payment Requests

In a real business, or even a real criminal organization, a demand for a “fine” paid out in Apple gift cards or Bitcoin would be extremely rare. If, however, this individual asks for these, then it is a 100% guarantee that this is a digital fraud.

Inconsistencies In The Story

Sometimes, the message of the cartel scam on Listcrawler will be that you “canceled an appointment,” even if you only sent out one text message reading “hello.” This illustrates the fact that the scammer is sending out the same message template to every phone they’ve collected.

What To Do If You Are Targeted

If you are already receiving messages from a listcrawler cartel scam, first and foremost, stop responding to them.

The reason why they would continue is that their message has resulted in a response, indicating that your phone number is active and that you are scared.

Read Also: The Most Infamous White-Collar Crimes in History

The “Black Hole” Strategy And Its Power

The key to defeating the listcrawler cartel scam is to become a “black hole.” Do not explain yourself, do not make excuses, and do not threaten back at them.

If the scammer finds you untouchable in terms of transferring proceeds, they will go to someone else who will more readily comply with their demands.

Reporting To Federal Authorities

You may report this list crawler cartel scam to the Internet Crime Complaint Center of the FBI. This helps federal agents identify international networks involved in these sextortion and blackmail scams.

Protecting Your Identity In The Future

In order to steer clear of the listcrawler cartel scam in the future, a different approach in dealing with the online classifieds has to be implemented.

Using your actual phone number in the online classifieds is like handing a person a key to your home.

Utilizing Burner Phone Apps

Prior to accessing websites that lead to warning messages concerning online escort scams, a second phone number should be established through an app.

If messages referring to cartel scams are sent to this number, the number can simply be deleted to begin again.

Monitoring Your Public Data

Given that the Listcrawler cartel scam requires finding your location, it is advisable to remove your data.

This way, you will significantly reduce the chances of finding your whereabouts based on your phone number, as stated by malwarebytes.com.

Psychological Impact and Recovery

The way that the Listcrawler cartel scam operates is that it triggers a “fight or flight” element. So, even after disconnecting that number, you will still feel paranoid or nervous for a few days, and that’s precisely what these scammers want.

The Reality Of The “No-Show

There have been no actual cases of violence resulting from a Cartel Lister scam reported to any law enforcement agencies in the U.S. or Canada. The cartel is most often simply some type of teenager or low-level scammer from a different time zone.

Moving Forward With Confidence

Once you have secured your accounts and reported the threat text, it should be over. The listcrawler cartel scam can only threaten if you believe their lie. Once you see the strings, see past it, the threat goes away.

Read Also: The Trey Reed Case Investigation, Findings, and Controversies

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

The following are some of the urgent questions people often ask when facing the Listcrawler cartel scam. We’ve answered the most common ones so that you may be able to get your peace of mind back.