Recovery scams — when someone offers to get your crypto back
Quick answer: Legitimate authorities do not charge upfront fees to recover crypto. Anyone cold-calling offering to retrieve lost bitcoin for a fee is almost certainly scamming you again.
If you lost money to a crypto scam, fraudsters may contact you again pretending to be lawyers, police or recovery agents.
How recovery scams work
You are told your funds were traced and you must pay a fee, tax or insurance to release them. The fee is the scam — the original crypto is gone.
Pause. Verify. Protect your next step.
Do not let a deadline or a promised return rush you
Do not use contact details supplied by a suspected scammer to verify their story. A demand for an upfront recovery fee is another warning sign.
Read the diagram as text
- 01. Pause. Stop and question demands for another payment or a secret.
- 02. Verify. Check the firm and contact details independently.
- 03. Preserve evidence. Keep messages and transaction details; follow the reporting guide.
Source: FCA crypto investment scams
Frequently asked questions
Can anyone recover stolen crypto? +
Rarely. Blockchain transfers are usually irreversible. Report to police and your bank promptly.