Sucker list
A list of people who have already been scammed, with details of the scam and how much they paid. Scammers buy, sell and trade them, then contact the same people again, often offering help to get the money back.
The FTC says scammers buy lists of people who have paid scammers. They call it a sucker list, and it holds details such as your name, address and phone number, the kind of scam that tricked you, and how much you paid. The lists are traded, because someone who has already been scammed once is treated as a likely target for another try.
The FTC’s warning is about refund and recovery scammers, who use such a list to contact you and say they can help you get your money back, or recover a prize or merchandise you never received. Because they know what happened to you, the story sounds believable. They then ask for a payment, which the FTC describes as a retainer fee, processing fee or administrative charge, or ask for your financial information so they can supposedly deposit a refund.
FINRA lists appearing on lead lists among the reasons you may get an unsolicited investment call. The sensible reaction to any unexpected offer to recover lost money is to assume you may be on a list, and to contact your bank, regulator or the agency that handled your report using contact details you find yourself.
Where it shows up
- Recovery scams · The second scam, aimed at the people the first one already took, and it arrives knowing exactly what you lost.
- Refund and remote access scams · A refund you never asked for, paid in too generously, and a screen you no longer control while you send the difference back.
Sources
- Refund and Recovery Scams. US Federal Trade Commission. Accessed 2026-10-10. Supports: That scammers buy lists of people who have paid scammers, call it a sucker list, and what it contains.
- Have you lost money to a scam? Watch for scammers who say they can help. US Federal Trade Commission. Accessed 2026-10-10. Supports: That refund and recovery scammers buy lists of people who have been scammed, and the fees and information they ask for.
- Boiler Rooms: An Old Stock Scam Gets a Technology Makeover. FINRA. Accessed 2026-10-10. Supports: That appearing on a lead list is a listed red flag for boiler room contact.