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Dating scam guide

Recovery scams

Also known as: fund recovery scam, fake IC3/FBI agent scam, asset recovery scam

How it works

After someone has lost money, criminals contact them posing as law enforcement (including fake FBI/IC3 agents), lawyers or 'recovery' firms, promising to get the money back for an upfront fee, crypto payment or personal/financial details. Some use deepfake videos of officials or spoofed IC3 websites.

Who is targetedPeople who have already reported or posted about losing money to a scam.
How fast it movesWeeks to months after the original scam.
Typical routeSocial media, email or phone -> fake agency/recovery site -> fees paid in crypto or gift cards

Red flags

  • Someone offers to recover money you lost to a scam, for a fee
  • A person claiming to be from the FBI/IC3 or police contacts you on social media or messaging apps
  • A 'government' website that does not end in .gov

Check your match against all 44 red flags

Recent cases

Real cases reported by courts, police, regulators and the press. People facing pending charges are presumed innocent, and private victims are not named.

2026-07-20 · USA
The FBI warned (IC3 PSA) that criminals impersonate FBI and IC3 officials on Facebook, Telegram, email and phone, and use AI deepfake videos of FBI leaders promoting spoofed IC3 sites, to steal more money or data from previous fraud victims.

The numbers

  • FBI notes victims of crypto investment fraud are also targeted in recovery scams claiming to help recover lost funds. (2025) source

If it is happening to you

  1. Legitimate agencies do not charge fees to recover money; IC3 never contacts individuals by phone, email, social media or chat.
  2. Type www.ic3.gov directly into the browser; check any site claiming to be government ends in .gov.
  3. Report the recovery approach as a new scam.

Where to report

United Statesreportfraud.ftc.gov – FTC – ReportFraud.ftc.govic3.gov – FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) – type www.ic3.gov directly; IC3 never contacts victims by phone, social media or chat
United Kingdomreportfraud.police.uk – Report Fraud (replaced Action Fraud) – reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040stopscamsuk.org.uk/159 – Call 159 to reach your bank's fraud team safely (covers >99% of UK retail current accounts)
Canadareportcyberandfraud.canada.ca – Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre – reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca or 1-888-495-8501, and your local police
Australiascamwatch.gov.au – Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au); ReportCyber via cyber.gov.au; IDCARE 1800 595 160 for identity recovery

Related scams

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Romance scams

A scammer builds an online relationship using a fake or borrowed identity, often over weeks or months, and invests heavily in attention and affection.

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Pig butchering

A friendly or flirtatious contact – often on a dating app, social media or a 'wrong number' text – builds a relationship and casually mentions success trading crypto, gold or forex as a 'side job'.

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Sextortion and image blackmail

The criminal poses as an attractive person (often a young woman) on a dating app, social media or game, flirts quickly, and persuades the target to exchange nude images or join an intimate video call that is secretly recorded.

Sources

Research compiled 28 September 2026.