How do I recover from an advance fee scam?
Stop paying immediately — no additional fees will release any promised funds, because they do not exist. Report to the FTC, FBI, and the U.S. Secret Service if significant funds were lost.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Advance fee fraud (sometimes called 419 scams) follows a consistent pattern: you are promised a large sum of money — an inheritance, lottery win, business opportunity, or government release of funds — that will be yours as soon as you pay a series of fees (taxes, customs, legal costs). Each fee paid leads to another, as long as the victim keeps paying.
The promised money does not exist. The fees are the entire scheme. No amount of additional payments will release any funds. The only correct action is to stop sending money completely, regardless of how much has already been lost or how close the promised payout seems. Scammers deliberately make victims feel they are 'almost there' to encourage continued payments.
If any payments were made by credit card, file chargebacks for misrepresentation. For wire transfers or gift cards, follow the relevant specific recovery guides. Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov, and if significant funds were lost, the U.S. Secret Service's Financial Crimes Division, which actively investigates advance fee fraud.
Preserve all communications — emails, chat logs, documents sent by the scammers. These help investigators identify criminal networks. Also be aware that some advance fee schemes escalate to impersonating law enforcement, threatening victims with legal action for 'money laundering.' These threats are completely fake.
Common red flags
- Unexpected notification of a large inheritance or lottery win you never entered
- Business opportunity to help move large funds overseas in exchange for a large commission
- Each fee paid leads to a new unexpected fee before funds can be released
- Elaborate fake documentation (fake government letters, legal certificates)
- Asks you to keep the opportunity secret from family and advisors
What to do now
- Stop all payments immediately — the promised funds do not exist
- Dispute any credit card charges for misrepresentation
- Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- File with the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov
- If losses are significant, also report to the U.S. Secret Service Financial Crimes Division
- Preserve all emails and documents as evidence
Frequently asked questions
The scammer threatened to arrest me for 'money laundering' — is this real?
No. This is a common escalation tactic to frighten victims who have paid money into continuing to cooperate or paying 'legal fees.' Real law enforcement does not threaten people by phone or email demanding payments to avoid arrest. Cease all contact with the scammer.
I sent identity documents to the scammer as part of the process — what now?
If you shared identity documents, follow the steps in the identity document scam guide: place a credit freeze, file with IdentityTheft.gov, and monitor your credit. The scammer may use or sell your documents for identity fraud.