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Did someone promise to recover your crypto loss? For a fee? That’s a scam.  ReportFraud.ftc.gov

The failure of a major cryptocurrency exchange has wiped out many crypto investors, and it could lead to potential scammers looking to cash in. Find out how to avoid them.

Some scammers offer so-called recovery services to people who have lost money to fraud. If you’ve lost money in crypto, scammers might try to convince you they can get your money back. (Spoiler alert: they can’t.) They’ll impersonate the government, a company, or another organization saying that they can help you recover all that money. They’ll make up lots of stories to convince you they will. But first, they’ll tell you to pay them a fee. Or give them your financial information so they can put those lost funds back into your account. But if you do either of these things, your money will be gone.

 To spot and avoid recovery scams, remember:

  • Don’t pay anyone who contacts you, offering to recover money you lost to a scam. Nobody legit will call, email, send a letter, or contact you on social media with this kind of offer. And if you pay any fee they charge, or give them any account information, your money will be gone.
  • Check out any offers if you’re still tempted. Remember: it’s not how government agencies work, and no legit company or organization will contact you about getting your money back. But if you’re curious, search for their name online with the words “complaint”, “scam” or “review.” See what people say.
  • Know that only scammers will tell you to pay by gift card, cryptocurrency or wire transfer. It’s a sure way to know that whoever you’re dealing with is a scammer.

Spot a recovery scam like this? Tell us at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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Great article
November 17, 2022

I was able to trade Snx, ren, and several other securities in sept 2021 on coinbase. They asked for screen shots and receipts and then locked me out for life. Said they did not need to explain why. Sold my assets then at the end of the year turbo tax said I owed 147 million in taxes. Coinbase continues to not answer a single question. Unless I come up with 2900 bucks. What do I do

jane
January 23, 2023

these scammers are innovative and its very hard to tell the real from the fake

Bolin
February 06, 2023

In reply to by jane

you are a hundred percent right Jane.

Edward Marshall
March 14, 2023

Can you tell me if “Zoho assist” is I legit recovery company…?

sherry
March 27, 2023

Anyone encounter this? The recovery team from FIunion in sweden contacted me and say i can recover my fund. They ask me to put in a contract details in my wallet and fund my own wallet with 10% of the lost funds. but the money was never able to be withdraw.

Tim
May 01, 2023

In reply to by sherry

Yes, guys pretending to be from FIUnion but calling from London numbers. They introduced themselves saying they are approved by the FCA and emailed me some documentation. A guy later spent hours talking over the phone, asking to set up an extension wallet in Binance and then waiting for an email from blockchain administrators. Very fiendish!

Chef
May 01, 2023

Anybody deal with AMGEX, I tried to withdraw my funds and they said I owe a 15% fee now my account is frozen

LARRY MANERA
May 04, 2023

In reply to by Chef

Don't send anybody any money I just got scammed for 30000.00 with quantum trade and They want me to put more money in the account to get the 188000.00 dollars that I made trading crypto. I can't get a dime back does anybody know a real company that can actually get your money back. I wish!!!!!!!