Scam library
Fake money recovery services
Someone promises to recover a previous scam loss, then asks for more money or sensitive information.
What it looks like
Fictional example: We traced your stolen funds. Pay the release charge at example.com/recovery to receive your balance.
Fictional example: Our legal team has your case details. Send a crypto retainer today and we guarantee full recovery.
How it works
Scammers contact people who have already lost money and pose as investigators, lawyers, or recovery specialists. They may know genuine details of the earlier scam or show convincing tracing reports. More fees follow, but the promised recovery never arrives.
Warning signs
- An unsolicited contact guarantees recovery.
- You must pay taxes or release fees to access supposedly recovered money.
- They claim privileged government partnerships.
- Payment goes to a personal wallet or unrelated business.
If you got one of these
- Verify any lawyer through the licensing authority and contact the real office independently.
- Do not share wallet recovery phrases, passwords, or remote access.
- Keep working directly with your bank and the agency handling your original report.
- Treat knowledge of your earlier loss as information the scammer may already possess.
If you already paid or shared something
- Contact your bank or payment provider immediately and request available recovery measures.
- Add the new messages, payment records, and claimed identities to your report at ic3.gov.
- Secure any accounts you exposed and decline further recovery fees.
Who gets targeted
People who have lost money to a scam or posted publicly asking for help.
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