Getting money back from a scammer: what works and the recovery scam to avoid
Quick answer
Anyone who contacts you offering to recover your lost money for a fee is a scammer. Real help is free: contact the bank, app or card company you paid with right away and ask for a reversal, then report the scam to the FTC and your state attorney general.
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- (FTC)
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How it works
Refund and recovery scammers target people who have already lost money. The FTC says they buy lists of people who've been scammed, then contact them again.
They promise to get your money back, or to recover a prize or merchandise you never received. To sound credible, they claim to be a government agency (sometimes even the FTC), a consumer advocacy group or a law firm.
Then they ask for one of two things:
- An up-front fee. A "retainer fee", "processing fee" or "administrative charge" before they'll help.
- Your financial information, so they can supposedly deposit the refund.
If you pay, the money is gone. If you share your financial details, you risk identity theft on top of the first loss.
Red flags
- Someone contacts you out of the blue offering to recover money you lost
- A fee, retainer or processing charge before any refund
- A claim to be a government agency, advocacy group or law firm you didn't contact
- A request for your bank or card details to deposit a refund
- A number or link to contact them that came from them, not from the agency's own site
Example message
We have identified funds you lost to an online fraud and can recover them for you. To release the refund, pay a small processing fee of $[amount] at [link] or call [phone number] to verify your account.
What to do
- 1
Contact whoever you paid, straight away
Zelle or bank transfer: tell your bank or credit union and ask them to reverse the payment. Payment app such as Venmo, Cash App or PayPal: report it in the app and ask for a reversal. Wire: contact the wire company. Cards: call the number on the back of the card. The FTC notes your money may already be gone, but it's always worth asking.
- 2
Gift cards and crypto
For gift cards, contact the issuer using the number on the card, say a scammer tricked you and ask for a refund. Keep the card and receipt. For crypto, contact the exchange or ATM operator immediately. These payments are harder to get back.
- 3
Cash sent by mail
If you mailed cash, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at once. The FTC says that for a fee they may be able to intercept a package that hasn't been delivered.
- 4
Never pay anyone to get your money back
The FTC says neither government agencies nor legitimate organizations ask for money or financial info in exchange for help getting a refund. Look up any agency's contact details yourself.
- 5
If you gave personal information or computer access
If your Social Security number was used, report it at IdentityTheft.gov. Otherwise follow the steps at IdentityTheft.gov/databreach. Change passwords, turn on two-factor authentication and scan any device a scammer accessed.
- 6
Report it
Report the original scam and any recovery offer to the FTC and your state attorney general.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
Recovery scammers don't find you by chance. The FTC says they buy lists of people who were already scammed. Beyond those lists, contact details move through people-search sites and data breaches. Serus finds the data brokers that list your phone number, address and email and removes them, and alerts you when your email shows up in a breach, so fewer scammers can reach you.
Official alerts
Frequently asked
Can I get my money back from a scammer?
Sometimes. It depends on how you paid. Contact the bank, app, card company or wire service you used right away and ask for a reversal. Money sent through cryptocurrency is hardest to recover.
Should I hire someone to recover my money?
Be very careful. The FTC warns that anyone who contacts you offering to recover lost money for a fee is a scammer, and you'll lose more.
Does the FTC refund money to scam victims?
Don't trust anyone who says they're from the FTC and asks for a fee or your financial information. The FTC says it uses reports to build cases and spot trends. Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
How do I check whether someone offering help is real?
Search their name online with words like complaint, scam or review, and look up any agency's contact details yourself. Don't use a number they give you.
Sources
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