How do I recover money lost in an investment or trading scam?
Report to the SEC, CFTC, or your country's financial regulator immediately. Recovery is possible in some cases through regulatory proceedings, but beware of recovery scams targeting investment fraud victims.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Investment scams — including fake forex trading platforms, fake cryptocurrency investment sites, Ponzi schemes, and boiler-room stock fraud — are among the highest-loss scam categories. Victims are often sophisticated individuals who have been persuaded over weeks or months to invest increasing amounts.
The first step is to preserve all evidence: account statements, website screenshots, emails, chat logs, wire transfer confirmations, and the names or usernames of anyone involved. This evidence is essential for regulators and law enforcement. If you were encouraged to download an app or access a trading portal, screenshot everything before it disappears — scam platforms are frequently taken down once victims start reporting.
In the U.S., report to the SEC at sec.gov/tcr for investment fraud and to the CFTC at cftc.gov/complaint for futures and forex fraud. Both agencies have victim assistance resources and, in cases where they recover assets through enforcement actions, may distribute funds to victims. Also file with the FBI's IC3.
If the platform is offshore and unlicensed, recovery through regulatory action is less likely, but reporting is still important. Some countries have cooperative enforcement agreements. Be especially vigilant about 'recovery scammers' who specifically target people who have already lost money in investment fraud — they charge upfront fees, promise to retrieve your funds, and then disappear. These are secondary scams.
Common red flags
- Platform shows consistent profits but charges fees or taxes before withdrawal
- You cannot withdraw funds you can see in your account
- Customer service goes silent or gives excuses when you request a withdrawal
- Platform was introduced through a social media contact or messaging app
- Returns are unusually high (daily or weekly percentage gains)
- You are pressured to recruit others to receive bonuses
What to do now
- Preserve all evidence: screenshots, emails, wire receipts, account statements
- Report to the SEC at sec.gov/tcr or CFTC at cftc.gov/complaint
- File with the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov
- Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Contact your bank about any wire transfers made to the scam platform
- Do not pay any 'recovery service' that contacts you afterward
Frequently asked questions
What is a Ponzi scheme and can victims get money back?
A Ponzi scheme pays early investors with later investors' money rather than genuine investment returns. When schemes collapse, courts appoint receivers who attempt to recover assets. Victims typically receive cents on the dollar from recovered assets, distributed over years. Reporting quickly improves the receiver's ability to freeze assets.
I signed a contract with the investment platform — does that protect me?
No — contracts with unlicensed or fraudulent investment platforms are not enforceable, and the platform having a contract does not legitimize it. Contracts and regulation documentation can actually be faked. Check if the platform is registered with your country's financial regulator before investing.