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Crypto Confirmed CASE-2026-0017

Crypto recovery firm guarantees stolen-wallet return

A recovery service contacts a prior scam victim and asks for an upfront fee to retrieve lost cryptocurrency.

First reported
May 17, 2026
Last updated
May 27, 2026
Source
Public source ↗

How this scam works

The target had already lost money in a crypto scam. A second contact then appeared, claiming to be a recovery firm, investigator, law office, exchange specialist, or government-linked service. The pitch said the funds had been located and could be returned after an upfront fee.

This is a follow-on fraud. Recovery scammers know that recent victims are under pressure and may still hope the money can be saved. They may ask for a processing fee, tracing fee, wallet verification deposit, or tax payment. The payment method often mirrors the original scam: crypto, wire, payment app, or gift card.

No private recovery firm can guarantee the return of stolen crypto for an advance fee. Do not pay to unlock a refund. Preserve wallet addresses, transaction hashes, messages, and payment records. Report the original loss and the recovery contact to the appropriate platform, law enforcement portal, and fraud reporting site.

If this happened to you

First, take a breath. Being targeted is not your fault — these scammers do this all day, every day, and they are very good at it. Here's what to do next:

  1. Stop contact and don't send any more money or information.
  2. If money or an account is involved, call your bank or card company right away.
  3. Report it — it helps protect others: tell us here and file with the FTC ↗.
  4. Tell someone you trust. Talking about it openly takes away the scammer's biggest weapon: shame.

If you're feeling embarrassed or shaken, that's a completely normal reaction — and it passes. You're not alone, and help is free:

  • AARP Fraud Watch Helpline: 877-908-3360 — free to talk it through, even if you're not a member.
  • Recover your identity: IdentityTheft.gov ↗ — a free, step-by-step plan from the FTC.

We compile entries from the public source above. We don't publish private screenshots or message threads. If you report a new instance, please keep the original message, sender address, phone number, links, and any payment request.

Know someone who might fall for this?

Take two seconds to send it to them — forwarding a scam to the people you love is the easiest way to stop one before it starts.

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