Recovery Scam: how scam victims get deceived a second time
You know what’s the cruelest thing in crypto fraud? A scam that comes after you’ve already been scammed. You’ve lost your money — and suddenly a “helper” appears, promising to get it back. In reality, they drain your last funds and disappear. That’s what’s called a Recovery Scam — fraud built on hope.
Key signs: bold promises of “100% recovery tomorrow,” demands for upfront “fees” or “taxes,” urgency, and technical jargon. Real recovery takes weeks or months — and never requires prepayment.
How it differs from Pig Butchering
Recovery Scam targets those who already lost funds: the victim is told, “we’ll return everything tomorrow, just pay the fee.”
Pig Butchering, on the other hand, is a complex, multi-layered scheme. The victim is lured into a fake investment platform, “fattened up” with promises of profit, and pressured to invest more and more. That’s where criminals make the bulk of their money. After the first fraud, they often continue the extortion — this time posing as lawyers or regulators.
How it usually works
After an incident, the victim posts about the loss in social media or chat groups. Scammers monitor keywords like stolen crypto or lost USDT and reach out first.
They disguise themselves as “recovery agents,” “exchange support,” “private hackers,” or even “international regulators.” Urgent messages, authoritative titles, and pseudo-technical talk are their standard tools.
The pattern is simple: they demand a “node fee,” “unlocking gas,” “taxes,” or “USDT re-issuance fee.” Once paid — silence, blocking, disappearance.
Why victims fall for it
Real cases
Our experiment
We publicly posted that we lost funds. Within an hour, we were flooded with “helpers”: from “hackers” to “lawyers.” Every script boiled down to the same thing: pay a “fee” and get your funds back tomorrow. We collected their wallet addresses and marked them as scams.
Want to see how it looked in real life? Watch our investigation video on YouTube (link).
How not to fall for it again
What to do if your crypto is stolen
⚡️ The first minutes after theft are critical. You need to tag the stolen assets and block their movement before the attacker cashes out.
➡️ Report the incident via the form on our website.
We will promptly mark the addresses, run initial analytics, and guide you through realistic recovery steps, including your actual chances of success.
FAQ
Conclusion
Recovery Scam is not help — it’s a second robbery.
Real professionals don’t promise “funds back tomorrow,” don’t ask for upfront fees, and work only through official processes. They explain step by step, provide documents, and set realistic expectations.
A trustworthy company acts immediately on what’s critical to maximize your chances of recovery. If recovery is unlikely, they will tell you honestly and explain why. Either way, you’ll get initial analytics and a tailored action plan for your case.
Key signs: bold promises of “100% recovery tomorrow,” demands for upfront “fees” or “taxes,” urgency, and technical jargon. Real recovery takes weeks or months — and never requires prepayment.
How it differs from Pig Butchering
Recovery Scam targets those who already lost funds: the victim is told, “we’ll return everything tomorrow, just pay the fee.”
Pig Butchering, on the other hand, is a complex, multi-layered scheme. The victim is lured into a fake investment platform, “fattened up” with promises of profit, and pressured to invest more and more. That’s where criminals make the bulk of their money. After the first fraud, they often continue the extortion — this time posing as lawyers or regulators.
How it usually works
After an incident, the victim posts about the loss in social media or chat groups. Scammers monitor keywords like stolen crypto or lost USDT and reach out first.
They disguise themselves as “recovery agents,” “exchange support,” “private hackers,” or even “international regulators.” Urgent messages, authoritative titles, and pseudo-technical talk are their standard tools.
The pattern is simple: they demand a “node fee,” “unlocking gas,” “taxes,” or “USDT re-issuance fee.” Once paid — silence, blocking, disappearance.
Why victims fall for it
- Hope. The picture of “funds recovered tomorrow” switches off critical thinking.
- Panic. Fear of “missing the last chance.”
- Authority. Fake lawyers and “regulators” with seals and documents.
Real cases
- In 2024, the Manhattan District Attorney charged Coin Dispute Network with producing fake reports and stealing from victims.
- The same year, FBI San Diego seized the domains of recovery websites (MyChargeBack, Payback LTD, Claim Justice) that demanded upfront fees without real recoveries.
- In 2025, the FBI issued a public warning about fictitious “law firms” collecting “taxes” and “fees” from scam victims.
Our experiment
We publicly posted that we lost funds. Within an hour, we were flooded with “helpers”: from “hackers” to “lawyers.” Every script boiled down to the same thing: pay a “fee” and get your funds back tomorrow. We collected their wallet addresses and marked them as scams.
Want to see how it looked in real life? Watch our investigation video on YouTube (link).
How not to fall for it again
- Don’t believe promises of “100% recovery.”
- Never pay upfront “fees” or “taxes.”
- Check: the company must have a legal entity and verifiable reputation.
- Payment should be for investigative work, not mythical blockchain charges.
- Real professionals never guarantee full recovery and are transparent about timelines and chances.
What to do if your crypto is stolen
⚡️ The first minutes after theft are critical. You need to tag the stolen assets and block their movement before the attacker cashes out.
➡️ Report the incident via the form on our website.
We will promptly mark the addresses, run initial analytics, and guide you through realistic recovery steps, including your actual chances of success.
FAQ
- Can you reverse a confirmed blockchain transaction? No — Bitcoin transactions are irreversible.
- Does Tether re-issue USDT for an upfront fee? No — Tether’s official recovery process takes weeks or months, and fees are deducted from the returned amount, not paid in advance.
- Can you hack a scammer’s wallet? No, technically impossible.
- Can an exchange, wallet, or regulator reach out to me first? No — FBI explicitly warns that legitimate entities never initiate contact.
- What is the role of forensic companies? They document the incident, tag addresses, notify exchanges, and prepare legal packages for law enforcement.
Conclusion
Recovery Scam is not help — it’s a second robbery.
Real professionals don’t promise “funds back tomorrow,” don’t ask for upfront fees, and work only through official processes. They explain step by step, provide documents, and set realistic expectations.
A trustworthy company acts immediately on what’s critical to maximize your chances of recovery. If recovery is unlikely, they will tell you honestly and explain why. Either way, you’ll get initial analytics and a tailored action plan for your case.
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