Scam patterns
Recovery scams: the second loss
A promise to retrieve stolen crypto can become another request for money or keys.
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After a loss, a supposed investigator may promise guaranteed recovery in exchange for an advance fee. Later demands can be described as taxes, release charges or verification deposits. A dashboard showing recovered funds does not demonstrate control of any real assets.
Separate tracing from recovery
A researcher may identify transaction routes without having the power to reverse them. A private service cannot simply command every blockchain or foreign custodian to return funds. Ask what specific action is proposed, which party can perform it and what evidence supports the claimed result.
Do not provide a recovery phrase or install unfamiliar software to prove ownership. Preserve the original transaction identifiers, communications and payment requests. Contact relevant law enforcement and any involved provider through independently verified channels.
Recovery outcomes vary. An honest report can be useful even where no recovery follows; a guaranteed result should invite scrutiny. MASTR donations fund research and are not payments for promised recovery. Continue with the incident-response guide.
Fontes
- ESMA: misuse of its name, logo and identity
- FBI IC3: cryptocurrency fraud and reporting
- MASTR: Crypto Survival Guide, four original panels
Investigação verificada em 5 de setembro de 2026. Historical cases retain the date and legal status of the cited record.