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Inspect Element Trick

Also known as: bank balance manipulation, refund scam, fake refund

A theatrical scam tactic where the scammer uses the browser’s Inspect Element to fake a bank balance on screen, convincing the victim a refund was over-paid and pressuring them to "return" the difference.

Inspect Element is a normal browser feature for web developers — it lets you edit the visible HTML of any page in your browser, locally, with no effect on the actual website. Scammers weaponise this during tech support fraud: after gaining remote access to your computer, they open your bank’s real website (after harvesting credentials), then use Inspect Element to temporarily change the displayed balance from $500 to $50,000.

The victim sees what looks like a “$5,000 refund” they did not request and feels obligated to return the difference. The scammer instructs them to send the amount via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. The original bank balance is unchanged — but the victim has now wired real money to the scammer.

The rule: do not believe what you see on screen if a stranger is controlling your computer or talking you through a refund process. Hang up. Log into your bank from a different device. Call the bank using the number on the back of your card to verify the actual balance.

Related terms

Tech Support Scam, Remote Access Tool, Scareware

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