Crypto recovery scam — the second scam after the first.
If you've already lost money to a crypto or investment scam, expect to be contacted by 'recovery experts'. They are not lawyers, hackers, or government officials. They are the same playbook, second act.
This is a second opinion, not a verdict. We never say a message is safe. If anything matches what you saw, slow down and verify before sending money or sharing codes.
Crypto Recovery Bureau
Email · Today · 16:02
What this scam is, in plain words
Recovery scams target people who've already been scammed. The scammers buy or trade victim lists, then approach you as a 'specialist', 'lawyer', or 'blockchain investigator'. They ask for an upfront fee and disappear with it — sometimes after extracting another round of details from you.
Real recovery, when it happens at all, is slow, legal, and routed through your bank, your country's fraud authority, or licensed lawyers — never via WhatsApp messages or upfront crypto fees.
Warning signs
If two or more of these show up at once, slow down.
- They contacted you out of the blue after a loss you didn't report publicly.
- They promise a specific recovery percentage (90%+, guaranteed, etc).
- They want an upfront fee — especially in crypto or by wire transfer.
- They claim insider access to exchanges, wallets, or 'blockchain analysts'.
- They ask for access to your wallet, seed phrase, or exchange login.
- They pressure you to act fast 'while the wallet is still active'.
What to do now
Calm steps you can take in the next two minutes.
Don't
- Don't pay any upfront fee, especially in crypto.
- Don't share your wallet seed phrase, private key, or exchange password — ever.
- Don't install remote-access tools to 'help with recovery'.
- Don't keep speaking to them in private — scammers rely on isolation.
Do
- Report the original scam to your country's fraud reporting service and to the exchange or platform involved.
- If you used a card or bank, your bank's fraud team is the right starting point.
- Tell one trusted person what happened. Recovery scams work by catching you when you're alone with the shame.
One last reminder. We never say something is safe. We surface signs to help you pause and verify. If anything looks off, talk to one person you trust before sending money or sharing codes.
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Read the guideNot sure yet? Check the message before you reply.
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