Real Account Recovery vs Recovery-Help Scam
How to tell a platform's genuine account-recovery process from a scammer posing as a recovery service to steal access to your account.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
When you lose access to an account, the genuine fix is the platform's own recovery flow. Scammers advertise 'account recovery services' that require your credentials or payment — then either steal the account outright or pocket the fee and vanish. The comparison below guides you through legitimate recovery.
Side-by-side comparison
| Platform account recovery | Recovery-help scam | |
|---|---|---|
| Who you contact | The platform itself via its official help centre URL | A third-party 'hacker recovery' or 'account unlock' service found via search or social media |
| Credentials requested | Platform never asks for your current password to recover your account | Asks for your username, password, or 2FA codes to 'restore' access |
| Fee | Account recovery is free via the platform's own process | Charges an upfront or success fee before or after recovery |
| Process | Uses email, phone, or trusted device verification you set up previously | Requests remote access to your device or asks you to share a verification code |
| Outcome | Access restored through the platform's own system; you set a new password | Account remains locked; fee is lost; or account is taken over by the scammer |
Common red flags
- Third-party service advertising account recovery for a fee
- Request for your password or 2FA code to 'restore' access
- Request to install remote-access software to assist with recovery
- Payment required before any recovery attempt is made
- Contact via social media DM claiming to be platform support
Verification steps
- Use only the official 'forgot password' or 'help' link on the platform's login page
- Check the platform's help centre for the authorised recovery process
- If recovery fails, use the platform's identity verification or appeal form
- Enable a recovery email and phone number before you need them
What not to do
- Don't pay any third party to recover a social media or email account
- Don't share your password, 2FA codes, or verification SMS with anyone
- Don't install remote-access software at a stranger's request
A safe response
Work exclusively through the platform's official recovery page. If you have been scammed by a fake recovery service, report it to the platform and your local consumer protection authority.
Frequently asked questions
Can anyone outside the platform actually recover my account?
No. Only the platform can restore access to your account. Third parties who claim otherwise are either scammers or, at best, using the same self-service recovery tools you can access yourself for free.