There is a second wave of fraud that targets people who have already been scammed once — the recovery scam. It is often more damaging than the first, because it preys on desperation and the hope of getting everything back.
How it works
Days or weeks after a loss, the victim is contacted by a “recovery agent”, “blockchain expert”, or even a fake exchange or government official. They already seem to know what was lost — because victim lists are bought and sold. They promise a full recovery, then ask for an upfront fee, a “tax”, or wallet access.
The red flags
- Anyone who guarantees a full recovery. No honest firm can.
- An upfront fee to “release” or “unlock” funds.
- A caller who reached out of the blue and already knows your loss.
- Pressure to act immediately or to share wallet keys / remote access.
How a legitimate firm behaves
It explains fees before any work begins. It never cold-calls. It gives a candid assessment — including when recovery is unlikely — rather than a promise. It asks for evidence, not access to your wallet.
If you have been hit twice, you are not alone and it is not your fault — these operations are engineered to work. Bring everything to a free case review, and learn to vet any firm or platform on our Broker Verification page.