From Scammer to Scam Hunter: The Remarkable Journey of the Founder of FindMyScammer

In the world of cybersecurity, some stories feel almost cinematic. The journey of Marwan Ouarab is one of them. A former scammer turned scam hunter, he is now the founder of FindMyScammer, a French company dedicated to helping victims of online fraud. His story illustrates a dramatic transformation: that of a young hacker drawn to easy money who ultimately chose to use his skills to support victims and assist the fight against cybercrime.

An early fascination with computers

Born in 1996 in Évry-Courcouronnes, France, Marwan Ouarab grew up in a modest household raised by a single mother. From an early age, he developed a strong interest in computers and taught himself coding and internet technologies.

School, however, proved more difficult. Struggling academically, he left the school system relatively early and took on various jobs, including working in tourist entertainment in Mallorca. Despite this unconventional path, he had a clear talent for understanding how digital systems worked and, more importantly, where their weaknesses lay.

Crossing to the wrong side

In the late 2010s, he discovered a vulnerability in concert ticketing systems: the barcodes on tickets often followed sequential patterns. Realizing this, he figured out it was possible to generate fraudulent tickets that could still be scanned as valid.

He began selling fake tickets for concerts and festivals, including some major events. The scheme worked for a time until he unknowingly sold a counterfeit ticket for a Pink concert to a police officer.

The investigation quickly led back to him. He was sentenced to ten months of suspended prison time and ordered to reimburse around €11,000 to the victims.

This moment became a turning point. Witnessing the consequences of his actions, especially the impact on his family and the people he had defrauded, forced him to reconsider his path.

The turning point

Soon afterward, a friend who had been scammed online asked him for help. Using his digital investigation skills, Marwan managed to identify the scammer.

He then began helping victims online on a voluntary basis, particularly in Facebook groups where luxury watch collectors frequently reported fraud cases.

The results came quickly. Scammers were identified, some cases were passed on to authorities, and several victims were able to recover their money.

One case proved decisive. A pharmacist who had been scammed out of jewelry worth around €80,000 offered him €10,000 after he helped identify the fraudster. At that moment, he realized his expertise could become a professional activity.

The creation of FindMyScammer

In April 2023, he founded FindMyScammer, a startup dedicated to tracking down online scammers.

The company relies on OSINT techniques—Open Source Intelligence—analyzing publicly available information online to uncover the real identities behind fake profiles, romance scams, and financial fraud.

The team gathers digital evidence, identifies perpetrators, and helps victims build cases that can be used by lawyers or law enforcement.

In some situations, these investigations also help victims obtain reimbursement from their banks.

Growing media attention

Marwan Ouarab gained significant media attention after several high-profile fraud cases were solved thanks to investigations conducted by his team.

One of the most widely discussed cases involved a romance scam in which a woman had been manipulated by someone impersonating the actor Brad Pitt. The investigation conducted by FindMyScammer helped identify the scammers and provide information to authorities.

Since then, Marwan Ouarab has regularly appeared in the media to explain how online scams operate and to raise public awareness about digital fraud.

A former scammer turned protector

Today, the founder of FindMyScammer openly acknowledges his past and describes himself as a reformed cybercriminal. His goal is to turn his company into a major player in the fight against online fraud.

He hopes to make it easier for victims to obtain compensation and to strengthen prevention efforts against online scams, which continue to grow each year.

His story carries a powerful lesson: those who understand the vulnerabilities of a system best are sometimes the ones most capable of protecting it.

Photos : sudinfo.be – gibert.com – dhnet.be