Recovery Room Scam

A recovery room scam targets people who have already been defrauded, exploiting their desperation to recoup losses. The fraudsters — often the same criminal network that ran the original scam — contact victims posing as law enforcement, government agencies, attorneys, or specialist asset-recovery firms. They claim to have identified the scammer's funds and offer to retrieve the victim's money for an advance fee, a percentage commission, or both.

Once the fee is paid, the 'recovery' either never materialises or triggers a series of escalating demands: taxes on recovered funds, insurance bonds, legal clearance fees. Each payment is justified by a plausible-sounding technicality. The scam can go on for months before the victim realises no recovery was ever possible.

Protection tips: legitimate law enforcement never charges fees to investigate fraud, and legitimate lawyers do not solicit cold-contact victims. Verify any recovery service independently through a bar association or the FCA register. Be especially cautious if you are contacted shortly after reporting a fraud — scammers monitor reporting channels and victim forums.