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Recovery scam

Refund recovery scam

A recovery scam preys on people who have already been defrauded, offering, for a fee, to recover the money they lost. The scammers pass themselves off as recovery agents, lawyers, government investigators, or crypto-tracing experts, and they frequently already know details of the original scam because victim lists are bought and sold among criminals. So the victims pay out 'fees,' 'taxes,' or 'deposits,' lose even more, and recover nothing.

How we check this: Written and reviewed by the Hunch team; recognition signs reflect how the FTC/FBI describe this scam. · Last reviewed: 2026-08

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Example

Weeks after losing money to an investment scam, someone contacts you claiming to be an investigator or a specialized recovery firm who has 'located' your funds. They say they just need an upfront processing fee or a small deposit to release the money back to you.

How to recognize it

  • You're contacted out of the blue about money you previously lost to a scam.
  • They guarantee recovery and ask for an upfront fee, tax, or deposit to proceed.
  • They claim to be law enforcement, a lawyer, or a fund-tracing specialist but can't be independently verified.
  • There's pressure to act fast and to pay via crypto, wire, or gift cards.

How Hunch flags it

Hunch keys on signal categories seen in these approaches: unsolicited contact referencing a prior loss, a guarantee paired with urgency, and an upfront payment ask through irreversible channels to 'release' recovered funds.

FAQ

Can a company really recover money lost to a scam for a fee?

Be very skeptical. Legitimate recovery of funds goes through your bank, card issuer, or law enforcement, not a firm that demands upfront fees and guarantees results. Upfront-fee 'recovery services' are usually scams.

Why did a scammer contact me again after I was already scammed?

Victim information is bought and sold among fraudsters, so being scammed once can make you a target for recovery scams. Treat any unsolicited 'we can get your money back' offer as suspicious.

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