Romance Recovery Scam

Romance recovery scams exploit the desperation and residual trust of people who have already lost money to romantic fraud. Scammers — sometimes the same criminal operation in a new guise — approach prior victims through social media, forums, or direct contact, claiming to be investigators, lawyers, or specialist recovery agents who have identified the original fraudster and can recover the lost funds.

A fee is required upfront: legal costs, government filing charges, or a percentage bond. These fees are extracted in successive instalments. No funds are ever recovered because no genuine investigation or recovery process exists.

Victims of romance scams should be aware that their details may be shared between criminal networks and that this second wave of contact is very likely fraudulent. Genuine legal or law-enforcement assistance does not require upfront payment from the victim.