Recovery Scam Awareness: How It Works and How to Recover
Fraudsters posing as recovery agents who target people already scammed — trust and awareness content. Also known as double scam, fake recovery agent.
Free case assessmentHow the fraud works
Recovery scams target people who have already been defrauded, posing as recovery agents, 'cyber units', lawyers or even regulators who can get your money back — for an upfront fee. They often already hold your details from an earlier breach, which makes them convincing.
Warning signs
- Unsolicited contact offering to recover your loss
- Any demand for an upfront fee to 'release' funds
- Claims of a guaranteed recovery
- Pressure and urgency
- 'Officials' who contacted you first
Evidence to preserve
If you have been affected, gather:
- The approach itself (message, number, email)
- Any fee they requested or you paid
- Names, titles and organisations claimed
- Websites or documents they sent
How victims recover funds
The primary recovery route is regulator & ombudsman complaint. A formal complaint to the financial regulator or ombudsman creates an official record, can trigger supervisory action against a licensed entity, and is often a required step before further escalation.
A legitimate firm explains the realistic routes, never guarantees recovery, and is transparent about costs. If someone contacts you first and demands an upfront fee to 'release' your money, treat it as a second scam.
Recovery Scam Awareness recovery by country
Select your country for the local regulator, ombudsman and recovery routes: