A recovery agent promises to return money lost in a scam

Fraud victims can be approached by people claiming to be investigators, blockchain specialists or refund agents. Their knowledge of the first case may come from a sold victim list or a public report. An upfront fee or request for remote access is a warning, not evidence of inside access.

Before you start​

Collect the first transaction's date, amount, recipient and payment method. Keep copies of messages without sending additional identity documents to the caller.

Do it step by step​

1. Stop communicating with the unsolicited 'recovery' contact and do not pay a tracing, tax, wallet activation or release fee.
2. Contact the bank, card issuer, payment app or exchange used for the original payment through the official app or a number on a statement. Ask about dispute or reversal options promptly.
3. If you gave the supposed agent account access, end remote sessions, change credentials from a trusted device and review any new payment instructions or connected apps.
4. Report the original fraud and the new recovery approach to the appropriate platform and local authority. In the United States, FTC accepts reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov; use your country's equivalent elsewhere.
5. Document every response and do not expect an immediate guaranteed refund. Share the warning with anyone whose details might also be on the victim list.

Check the result​

Your payment provider should confirm whether a legitimate dispute or recall is open. Any case number should be verifiable through its independently reached support.

If something goes wrong​

A government-sounding name and a real prior transaction detail do not authenticate the caller. Refunds may be impossible, especially for irreversible transfers; no outside agent can guarantee them.

Know the limit​

FTC says recovery scammers target earlier victims and warns against paying someone who contacts you offering to recover money for a fee. FTC's refund and recovery scam guide