Fake Crypto Recovery DM Script
After losing money to a crypto scam, victims are targeted by fake 'recovery specialists' who charge upfront fees and then vanish.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
I saw your post about losing crypto. Our firm has recovered funds for [number] clients — we can trace your wallet. Contact us: [fake link]
We charge a [amount] upfront fee, then take a [percentage]% success fee. We've already located your funds on the blockchain.
Your recovery is almost complete — one more [amount] payment to release the funds from escrow.
We need your wallet seed phrase to initiate the transfer back to you.
What the scammer wants
To exploit people who have already lost money to crypto fraud by charging escalating 'recovery fees' with no intention of recovering anything — and in some cases to steal remaining funds via seed phrase requests.
Red flags in the message
- Contacted you after you posted about a crypto loss
- Claims to have already located your funds on the blockchain
- Requires an upfront fee before any recovery takes place
- Additional fees keep appearing to 'release' funds
- Requests your wallet seed phrase or private keys
- No verifiable company registration, address, or regulatory licence
- Testimonials and websites created recently
A safe response
Do not pay any upfront fee and never share your seed phrase with anyone. Genuine law-enforcement-linked asset recovery does not charge upfront fees found through social media. Report the original scam to your national reporting authority.
What not to send
- Upfront recovery fees
- Wallet seed phrase or private keys
- Additional 'escrow release' or 'tax' payments
- Personal identification documents
What to do if you already replied
- Stop all payments — further fees will not result in recovery
- Report the recovery scammer separately from the original fraud
- Seek advice from your national financial regulator or consumer authority
- Be cautious of further contact claiming to be regulators offering help
- Connect with peer support communities to share experience safely
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot the full message or call details
- Note the sender number, email, or profile
- Save any links (without clicking) and payment details
- Record dates and times