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By 2023, one of the fastest-growing forms of fraud was not fake trading platforms—it was fake recovery companies. These operations prey specifically on people who have already been scammed once, targeting them at their most vulnerable moment.

Instead of offering real investigative help, these impostors use intimidation, forged documents, and pressure tactics to extract even more money. Some of the common patterns we documented include:

• Impersonating institutions such as “Interpol,” “FBI,” “Europol,” or fabricated groups like “Blockchain Recovery Units”
• Forged legal correspondence, complete with fake seals, staged signatures, and counterfeit case numbers
• Demands for “unlocking taxes,” “clearance fees,” or “legal release payments”, none of which exist in legitimate investigations
• Fear-based messaging, claiming assets will be “frozen forever” unless immediate payment is made

Victims often reach us after they’ve already paid these criminals, unsure who to trust or what steps are still possible. This is why education has become one of our strongest tools—explaining what real investigators do not do, and what legitimate processes look like.

Authentic investigation never begins with upfront fees, threats, or claims of government affiliation. And no legitimate agency asks victims to pay taxes or activation fees to recover their own assets.

If you’re unsure whether a recovery offer is legitimate, you can review how our real investigative work functions through our financial investigations practice.
If you’ve been approached by someone claiming they can retrieve your funds—for a cost—please contact us before taking action. A short conversation can prevent a second, often more damaging loss.

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