Recovery room fraud
If you’ve been scammed, go to the police and contact your bank. Never trust unsolicited help from strangers claiming they can recover your money.
What is recovery room fraud?
Recovery room fraud is a type of scam that targets people who have already lost money in previous frauds, especially investment or online scams.
Scammers pose as recovery agents, lawyers, law enforcement officer or government officials, and claim they can help you get your lost money back for a fee. They often have detailed information about your past fraud experience, which makes them seem credible.
Scammers demand initial payments that rapidly escalate with various “charges,” or they offer “recovery” through new fraudulent investment opportunities and their only goal is to steal more money from you.
How to avoid it
- Be wary of unsolicited help. Legitimate agencies do not cold call or email victims offering to recover lost money.
- Never pay upfront fees. Real recovery services, if available, do not ask for payment before delivering results.
- Check credentials directly with the official organisation. Do not trust phone numbers or email addresses given by the person contacting you.
- Be sceptical of guarantees. No one can promise to recover money from a scam with 100% certainty.
- Watch for pressure tactics. Fraudsters may urge you to act quickly or keep the recovery "confidential."
Remember
Scammers often strike twice. If you’ve lost money once, stay alert, fraudsters may come back pretending to help.