A follow-up scam targeting people who were already defrauded, promising to recover their lost money for a fee.
After a job or investment scam, victims are approached again — sometimes by the same ring — by a fake “recovery agent,” lawyer, or agency claiming they can get the lost money back for an upfront fee. It's a cruel second strike that preys on desperation and the sunk-cost trap.
Legitimate authorities and banks never charge a fee to investigate fraud. Any promise to recover funds for advance payment is itself a scam.
Red flags
- Unsolicited offer to recover money you lost to a scam
- An upfront fee required before any “recovery”
- Contact that appears soon after you were defrauded
Frequently asked questions
Can someone really get my scammed money back for a fee?
Almost never — and anyone demanding an upfront fee to do so is running a recovery scam. Real reporting channels like the FTC and FBI IC3 don't charge you to investigate fraud.