Double victims
Scammed Once, Robbed Again: The Fraudsters Who Promise to Get Your Money Back
Recovery scams target people who have already lost money. Older Americans reported $540 million in losses to them last year.
Losing your savings to a scam is devastating. Then, weeks later, someone reaches out with good news: they've traced your money and can get it back. All they need is a fee.
This is a recovery scam, and it is one of the cruelest frauds in the FBI's data. Americans aged 60 and older alone reported $540 million in losses to recovery scams in 2025.
How they find victims
Scam operations share and sell lists of people who have already paid. Some recovery offers come from the same criminals who ran the original scam. Others arrive as online ads, social media messages or comments promising "fund recovery" services.
The FBI's report specifically warns about thieves impersonating the FBI itself while pretending to help victims recover their losses.
The pitch often includes official-looking documents, badge numbers, case files or "blockchain tracing" reports.
The fee is always due upfront — and there's always another fee after that.
What real help looks like
Real recovery happens through your bank, your payment provider and law enforcement. In 2025 the FBI's Recovery Asset Team froze $679 million in attempted theft, but it did so after victims filed complaints — not by cold-calling them and asking for payment.
Red flags of a recovery scam
- They contacted you first, often knowing details of your previous loss.
- They ask for a fee, a "tax" or a deposit before returning anything.
- They claim to be from the FBI, the FTC or a "government recovery program."
- If you've lost money, report it yourself at ic3.gov and ReportFraud.ftc.gov.