high severity24 April 2026· Global
Warning: “Crypto recovery” services targeting scam victims
People who have lost money to scams are being approached by “recovery experts” who promise to get it back for an upfront fee. It's a second scam.
After a scam — especially a crypto or investment scam — victims are increasingly contacted by people claiming to be recovery agents, investigators, lawyers, or even officials who can retrieve the lost funds for an upfront fee.
They find victims through traded “sucker lists” and public complaints on forums and social media. No money is recovered; the fee is simply a second loss.
Genuine help comes only from your bank and official fraud-reporting services, none of which guarantee recovery or ask for crypto/gift-card fees upfront.
What to do
- Never pay an upfront fee to recover lost money
- Treat unsolicited recovery offers as scams and block them
- Work only with your bank and official fraud services
- Be cautious about posting publicly that you were scammed