All common scams

Offers to get your money back: the second scam

After a loss, someone offers to get your money back for a fee, which is a second scam aimed at people who already lost money.

What it looks like

We have located your lost funds. To release them, pay a $500 release fee in gift cards today and send your bank account number.

A made-up example. Real messages change the words, the names and the numbers.

The signs to look for

• It says it found your lost money, or that it can get it back. Nobody can promise that.
• It asks for a fee, a tax or a gift card first. Real agencies and banks do not charge to return stolen money.
• It asks for your bank details, a code or access to your device. That is how a second loss happens.

What they usually ask for next

1. They often say they found your money, or that they can get it back.
2. They usually ask for a fee, a "tax" or a gift card to release it.
3. They may ask for remote access, a photo of your ID or your wallet's recovery phrase.
4. They often ask for more fees, then go quiet once you stop paying.

If you already paid, gave access or gave a code

These are the same steps the tool shows after a check, in the same words.

1. Do not pay any fee to get money back. Real agencies and banks do not charge to return stolen money. That includes a "tax", a "release fee", a gift card or crypto sent to unlock a refund.
2. Never share a wallet recovery phrase, photos of your ID, bank or card details, a verification code or remote access to your device with anyone who offers to get your money back.
3. In the United States: report the recovery offer too, as a separate incident, to the FTC at ReportFraud and to the FBI's IC3, the same reports you would file for the first scam. Keep the message and any names or addresses they used, and do not reply. Type the official addresses into your browser yourself.
4. Watch for "recovery" offers: in the next weeks someone may contact you promising to get your money back for a fee, and that is a second scam. Real help never charges upfront. If one reaches you, do not pay or share anything, and report it as a separate incident.

These steps are general guidance. They have not yet been reviewed by the organizations named, and agencies, deadlines and rules differ by country, so use your own government's official website to find the right office. We can't tell whether any step will help in your case.

This is general information, not legal, financial or investigative advice. We can't promise any money will come back.

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