“We will recover your crypto”: how to spot recovery scams

A scam is often followed by a second one: “hackers”, “lawyers” or “agents” promise to get your money back if you pay a fee first. That is how the money is lost again.

Warning signs

They message or call you first, often soon after you posted about the scam publicly.
They guarantee your money back, or say they have “already found” it and you only need to pay to “release” it.
They want to be paid up front in crypto.
They claim they can “hack” the scammer’s wallet or the blockchain, or “reverse” the transaction.
They ask for your recovery phrase, passwords, or to install a remote access app.
They pose as the police, Interpol, the FBI, a financial regulator or an exchange’s “recovery department”. Government agencies do not charge you to investigate your case.
They rush you: “the offer is valid today only”, “otherwise the money is gone for good”.

How it really works

Nobody can reverse a blockchain transaction, not even the best hacker.
Only whoever holds the funds can freeze or return them: an exchange, a token issuer (such as Tether), the police or a court.
Tracing shows where the money went and who can act on it. Tracing alone does not bring the money back.

What real help looks like

It shows the money trail with transaction IDs you can check yourself in a public blockchain explorer.
It says openly what cannot be done and does not guarantee a return.
It is a registered company with a written agreement; you pay by card or bank transfer, not in crypto.
It never asks for your recovery phrase or wallet access.
It helps you approach the exchange and the police, rather than promising to “sort everything out for you”.

More guides

Scammed in crypto: what to do in the first 24 hours
Step by step: what to save, whom to tell and why speed matters once USDT or other crypto has been sent to scammers.
How not to lose your crypto
A one-page checklist: ten things never to do with crypto, how to protect yourself, and what to do if you have already been scammed.