"Fund recovery" scams: getting cheated twice
After you have been scammed, someone posing as a "hacker", "lawyer" or "official" offers to recover your money, on one condition: a fee up front. That is also a scam.
Last reviewed: 15 October 2026
Red flags
- A stranger somehow knows you were scammed
- Guaranteed recovery
- Fees or "processing charges" up front
- Fees requested in crypto
Why it works
People are desperate after losing money, and scammers often obtain victim lists or contact people who post complaints on social media. Blockchain transactions cannot be reversed; no "hacker" can undo them for a fee.
What to do
Report only through official law-enforcement channels: the police station and the CID Cyber Police Centre. The police never ask for a recovery fee in crypto.