Before you respond
Recovery scam messages
Learn recovery scam warning signs, including fake FBI or IC3 contacts, upfront fees, wallet access requests, and promises to recover lost money safely.
Reviewed June 10, 2026
Quick answer
A recovery message may be a scam if someone says they can get back money you lost but asks for a fee, wallet access, account details, or personal information first.
Do not pay upfront to recover lost money. Contact your bank, payment provider, or official reporting channels directly.
At a glance
Recovery scams retarget prior losses by posing as helpers who need a fee, account details, or wallet access.
- The person says they can recover money, crypto, a prize, or a refund for a fee.
- They claim to be from the FBI, IC3, a government agency, law firm, consumer advocacy group, or recovery company.
- They ask for a retainer, processing fee, tax, wallet access, seed phrase, bank details, or refund-deposit information.
Ignore unsolicited recovery offers, even if the person knows details about your earlier loss.
How recovery scams retarget people after a loss
Recovery scams often arrive after someone has already lost money. The message may claim to be from the FBI, IC3, a law firm, a government agency, a crypto recovery firm, or a consumer advocate. Knowing details about the earlier loss does not prove the person is legitimate.
The request is the key warning sign. A recovery scammer may ask for a processing fee, tax, retainer, bank information, wallet access, seed phrase, or refund-deposit details. Do not pay upfront to recover money. If the earlier loss involved crypto or online accounts, compare the message with crypto investment and tech support scam patterns too.
What it may look like
"This is an FBI/IC3 recovery agent. We found your stolen crypto; pay the processing fee and connect your wallet to claim it."
Signs to slow down
- The person says they can recover money, crypto, a prize, or a refund for a fee.
- They claim to be from the FBI, IC3, a government agency, law firm, consumer advocacy group, or recovery company.
- They ask for a retainer, processing fee, tax, wallet access, seed phrase, bank details, or refund-deposit information.
- They already know details about an earlier loss and use them to sound legitimate.
What to do next
- Ignore unsolicited recovery offers, even if the person knows details about your earlier loss.
- Do not pay upfront for recovery help.
- Do not share wallet seed phrases, private keys, account numbers, or identity documents.
- Contact your bank, card issuer, payment app, or crypto platform directly if money moved.
- Report the recovery contact to ReportFraud.ftc.gov if appropriate.
How to report it
- Do not pay upfront fees or share wallet seed phrases, private keys, bank details, or identity documents.
- Report recovery scam attempts to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Report cyber or crypto recovery scams to IC3.gov when appropriate, and contact the original payment provider quickly.
How Olevo can help
Olevo can give you a calm second opinion before you respond.
Paste the recovery message for a Private Check, or describe a recovery phone call with who contacted you and what they asked for.
Trusted sources
Refund and Recovery Scams
Federal Trade Commission
FTC guidance says anyone asking for upfront money or personal information to recover lost funds is likely a scammer.
Recovery Scams: Fraud Victims Hit Again by Scammers Promising to Recover Stolen Cash
AARP
AARP guidance explains how recovery scammers retarget people after losses and pose as firms, advocates, or government agencies.
Phone Scams
Federal Trade Commission
FTC guidance explains common phone scam signs, including pressure, threats, spoofed caller ID, and unusual payment demands.
Common questions
Can anyone guarantee they will recover my lost money?
Be careful. The FTC says promises to recover money for an upfront fee are a warning sign.
Why would a scammer know about my earlier loss?
Scammers may buy, sell, or trade information about people who already paid a scammer, then pose as the FBI, IC3, a law firm, or a recovery company.
What should I do if I already paid a recovery company?
Contact the payment provider or bank quickly, report the contact, and avoid sending more money or information.
Can someone guarantee they will recover my stolen crypto?
Be very careful. A guarantee, upfront fee, wallet connection, seed phrase request, or government-sounding recovery contact is a strong scam warning sign.