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You've just lost money to a crypto scam. It's devastating. You feel angry, embarrassed, desperate.
And now, you are about to become the target of a second scam.
This is the cruelest twist in the crypto fraud ecosystem. The same criminals or others who buy lists of victims will contact you pretending to be recovery specialists. They offer hope at the exact moment when hope is what you need most .
The Scale of the Problem
Between November 2024 and November 2025, Action Fraud received 5,553 reports of recovery scams totaling £185 million in losses .
The FBI seized websites belonging to three cryptocurrency recovery services MyChargeBack, Payback LTD, and Claim Justice for defrauding victims . These companies claimed to provide cryptocurrency tracing and promised the ability to recover lost funds but had no track record of doing so .
The scammers don't wait for you to find them. They actively search for you through forums, social media, complaint boards, and data obtained from darknet marketplaces .
How the Scam Works
Step 1: They Find You
If you've posted about losing money to crypto fraud on Reddit, Twitter, Telegram, or a complaint forum you've become a qualified lead .
Step 2: They Impersonate a Credible Brand
Scammers copy logos, domains, and documentation from real blockchain analytics companies, law firms, or even government agencies . Some pretend to be from the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center . Others create fake review profiles on Trustpilot with AI-generated photos .
Step 3: They Offer Hope (With a Fee)
The pitch is always the same: "We can recover your funds. We've already traced them. But we need a payment to release them." The "release" fee may be followed by additional demandstaxes, insurance, processing fees .
Step 4: They Disappear (Or Steal More)
After payment, the scammer vanishes. Or worse some instruct victims to install remote-access software, then use that access to steal whatever remains .
The Red Flags That Separate Scams from Legitimate Help
Red Flag What It Means
Unsolicited contact Genuine agencies don't email or call you first. You should be the one reaching out .
Upfront fees Legitimate firms may charge for their investigative work but not as a "release fee" based on a promise that funds have already been found .
"Found your funds just pay to release them" This is the classic advance-fee fraud pattern. If funds were truly located, the process would involve law enforcement, not a private company .
Requests for private keys or seed phrases This is a definitive red flag. No legitimate forensic firm needs this information .
Claims of government affiliation Law enforcement does not charge victims for investigating crimes. Anyone claiming to be from the FBI, IC3, or a national bank and demanding payment is a scammer .
Pressure tactics "Limited-time offer." "Funds about to expire." Scammers create urgency to prevent you from thinking clearly .
Fake reviews and social proof Scammers post dozens of glowing reviews from fake accounts. Look for identical praise, poor grammar, or brand-new reviewer accounts .
How Real Professional Help Works
Legitimate blockchain forensics firms like Cryptera Chain Signals operate very differently:
You contact them—not the other way around
They never ask for your private keys or seed phrase—they analyze the blockchain, not your wallet
They provide honest, realistic assessments—no guaranteed outcomes, no impossible promises
They offer transparent fixed pricing—not percentage-based commissions
They deliver evidentiary-grade reports—suitable for law enforcement and compliance teams
They maintain absolute confidentiality—strict privacy protocols from the first consultation
What to Do If Someone Contacts You
Do not respond. Any engagement confirms you're a viable target .
Do not pay anything. No legitimate service requires prepayment before providing real service.
Verify independently. If they claim to be from a specific company, go to that company's official website and contact them through verified channels not through information the contact provided.
Report it. In the UK, report to Action Fraud. In the US, report to the FTC or local law enforcement .
What you can do next: If you're looking for professional forensic help after a crypto loss, you should be the one initiating contact. Visit the Cryptera Chain Signals website to learn more and request a consultation on your terms, through verified channels.
And now, you are about to become the target of a second scam.
This is the cruelest twist in the crypto fraud ecosystem. The same criminals or others who buy lists of victims will contact you pretending to be recovery specialists. They offer hope at the exact moment when hope is what you need most .
The Scale of the Problem
Between November 2024 and November 2025, Action Fraud received 5,553 reports of recovery scams totaling £185 million in losses .
The FBI seized websites belonging to three cryptocurrency recovery services MyChargeBack, Payback LTD, and Claim Justice for defrauding victims . These companies claimed to provide cryptocurrency tracing and promised the ability to recover lost funds but had no track record of doing so .
The scammers don't wait for you to find them. They actively search for you through forums, social media, complaint boards, and data obtained from darknet marketplaces .
How the Scam Works
Step 1: They Find You
If you've posted about losing money to crypto fraud on Reddit, Twitter, Telegram, or a complaint forum you've become a qualified lead .
Step 2: They Impersonate a Credible Brand
Scammers copy logos, domains, and documentation from real blockchain analytics companies, law firms, or even government agencies . Some pretend to be from the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center . Others create fake review profiles on Trustpilot with AI-generated photos .
Step 3: They Offer Hope (With a Fee)
The pitch is always the same: "We can recover your funds. We've already traced them. But we need a payment to release them." The "release" fee may be followed by additional demandstaxes, insurance, processing fees .
Step 4: They Disappear (Or Steal More)
After payment, the scammer vanishes. Or worse some instruct victims to install remote-access software, then use that access to steal whatever remains .
The Red Flags That Separate Scams from Legitimate Help
Red Flag What It Means
Unsolicited contact Genuine agencies don't email or call you first. You should be the one reaching out .
Upfront fees Legitimate firms may charge for their investigative work but not as a "release fee" based on a promise that funds have already been found .
"Found your funds just pay to release them" This is the classic advance-fee fraud pattern. If funds were truly located, the process would involve law enforcement, not a private company .
Requests for private keys or seed phrases This is a definitive red flag. No legitimate forensic firm needs this information .
Claims of government affiliation Law enforcement does not charge victims for investigating crimes. Anyone claiming to be from the FBI, IC3, or a national bank and demanding payment is a scammer .
Pressure tactics "Limited-time offer." "Funds about to expire." Scammers create urgency to prevent you from thinking clearly .
Fake reviews and social proof Scammers post dozens of glowing reviews from fake accounts. Look for identical praise, poor grammar, or brand-new reviewer accounts .
How Real Professional Help Works
Legitimate blockchain forensics firms like Cryptera Chain Signals operate very differently:
You contact them—not the other way around They never ask for your private keys or seed phrase—they analyze the blockchain, not your wallet They provide honest, realistic assessments—no guaranteed outcomes, no impossible promises They offer transparent fixed pricing—not percentage-based commissions They deliver evidentiary-grade reports—suitable for law enforcement and compliance teams They maintain absolute confidentiality—strict privacy protocols from the first consultationWhat to Do If Someone Contacts You
Do not respond. Any engagement confirms you're a viable target .
Do not pay anything. No legitimate service requires prepayment before providing real service.
Verify independently. If they claim to be from a specific company, go to that company's official website and contact them through verified channels not through information the contact provided.
Report it. In the UK, report to Action Fraud. In the US, report to the FTC or local law enforcement .
What you can do next: If you're looking for professional forensic help after a crypto loss, you should be the one initiating contact. Visit the Cryptera Chain Signals website to learn more and request a consultation on your terms, through verified channels.