Recovery scams
After a scam, someone contacts you offering to get your lost crypto back for an upfront fee. They're scammers too, and often the same people.
How it works
- 1You report a scam publicly or post about it, or your details are passed around by the original scammers.
- 2A "recovery specialist", "investigator", or "lawyer" contacts you, often by direct message or email.
- 3They claim they've traced your crypto and can get it back, but they need a fee, your recovery details, or access to your device.
- 4Once you pay, they ask for more, or disappear.
A realistic example (fictional)
Jordan posts about losing Bitcoin to a fake investment site. Within a day, an account messages: "We recovered 90% of cases like yours. A $500 fee starts the process." Jordan checks with support first and learns it's a second scam.
Warning signs
- Unsolicited offers to recover your crypto
- Upfront fees, or fees in crypto or gift cards
- Promises or guarantees of recovery
- Requests for your one-time codes, recovery details, or remote access
- Claims of special access to the blockchain or to law enforcement
- Pressure to act before a "deadline"
What to do
Haven't sent anything?
Ignore and block the contact. Report it to us and to the platform where it arrived.
Already sent something?
- Stop sending anything, including "final" fees.
- Save the messages, wallet addresses, and payment details.
- Contact Support so we can help secure your account.
- Report to the authorities. Real investigators and agencies never charge fees to open a case.
Protect yourself
- We'll never ask you to pay to recover crypto.
- Completed blockchain transactions generally can't be reversed, and no one can promise otherwise.
- Be cautious after any scam. Targeted people are often contacted again.
Report it
Tell us first, then the authorities. See all the ways to report.
Authorities: FBI IC3 (ic3.gov) · your local police · your bank or card issuer if you paid that way.