Recovery scam refers to a secondary fraud in which perpetrators specifically target individuals who have already been scammed. Investment or crypto fraud They have lost money. Under the promise of recovering the lost assets, further payments are fraudulently obtained.
What is a recovery scam after cryptocurrency fraud?
Recovery scams – also known as refund scams or recovery fraud – are fraudulent activities that structurally build upon a primary fraud that has already occurred. Perpetrators pose as specialized recovery service providers, lawyers, crypto investigators, or representatives of authorities such as BaFin, Europol, or public prosecutors. The core element is always an upfront payment: disguised as a processing fee, release tax, escrow deposit, or activation transaction, a payment is demanded, after which the promised service is never provided.
In practice, neither the promised repatriation service nor any legal basis for the alleged measures exists. After payment is received, contact is either completely broken off or maintained through further escalating demands for fees. Documented cases show advance payments ranging from several hundred to several thousand euros. The presentation of the offers is professionally designed: dedicated websites, forged official letters with file numbers, AI-generated team photos, and fabricated success stories create an environment of trust that is virtually impossible for victims to see through.
Have you received unsolicited contact from someone claiming to be a vehicle repatriation service? Have the legitimacy of the offer reviewed by a lawyer before making any payments.
How perpetrators obtain data from crypto fraud victims in recovery scams
Recovery scam networks do not operate indiscriminately. Victim data is obtained through multiple, complementary channels. When a fraudulent platform is exposed or shuts down, internal victim lists are often resold – recovery scam networks acquire these specifically and exploit the existing trust from the initial contact. In many cases, the perpetrator networks originate from the same organizational environment as the perpetrators of the original fraud.
In parallel, perpetrators systematically monitor public forums, review platforms, and social media for reports from fraud victims and make direct contact there. Specially created websites, optimized for search terms like "crypto fraud help" or "investment fraud money back," intercept victims via search engines. Additionally, criminal groups place paid advertisements on Google and social media, targeting users searching for information about their losses. In sophisticated cases, victims receive fake official letters announcing the alleged seizure of the fraudulent funds and demanding a release fee.
Structural warning signs in recovery scams after crypto fraud
Prepayment as a condition
The most reliable and unmistakable warning sign is a demand for advance payment – regardless of how it is described. No reputable legal service provider or forensic expert demands money before providing services. Anyone demanding a processing fee, release fee, or escrow deposit without first reviewing the case and establishing a client relationship is acting fraudulently.
Lack of documentation and unsolicited contact
No legitimate provider will contact fraud victims unsolicited. Furthermore, recovery scam providers are generally not listed in any verifiable register: neither in the German Federal Bar Association's (BRAK) directory of lawyers nor in the commercial register. Addresses provided either do not exist or belong to other companies. The .law or .legal domain extensions of some providers only create the appearance of legal legitimacy – actual licensing checks by registrars are generally not carried out.
Success guarantees and crypto payment requirements
Recovery rates, success guarantees, or concrete payout promises without prior case review are simply not possible. Anyone making such promises is misleading about the actual possibilities. The exclusive acceptance of cryptocurrencies as payment methods—Bitcoin, Tether, USDC—is no coincidence: Crypto transactions are practically impossible for laypersons to reverse without forensic assistance and evade chargeback procedures. A young domain age, which can be determined free of charge via a WHOIS query, is another structural indicator.
If you are unsure whether a contact offer is legitimate: An initial legal assessment protects against further damage. Get in touch.
Suspicious domains and websites associated with recovery scams
During research into potential recovery scam structures, domains repeatedly appear that exhibit typical characteristics of such offers. This does not constitute a definitive legal assessment in any individual case. The following list serves to illustrate typical patterns.
- agbglobal.cc („Alliance Against Fraud“)This website imitates the brand name of Allianz SE, which itself explicitly warns against identity theft by third parties. The .cc domain is registered outside the German legal framework; no BaFin authorization or commercial register entry can be verified.
- bavaria-rechtundberatung.com („Bavaria Law & Advice“): Suggests Bavarian regionality and legal competence, without a corresponding company being listed in the BRAK lawyers' directory or commercial register.
- hengelermuellerc.com („Hengeler Müller„(") The name of the renowned law firm Hengeler Mueller is imitated by adding a "c" – a classic typosquatting pattern. This can mislead victims of fraud who are specifically seeking legal assistance.
- astra-legalberatung.com („Astra Veritas„(): Combines a Latin-sounding name with multilingual content, without any registered company or law firm being demonstrable in German registers.
- krypto-radar.deDespite a .de domain and German-language website, legally required information such as a legal notice with a valid address or business registration is missing. Technical terms are used without any methodological explanation.
- fallzentrum.de („Fall Center“)A generic name that feigns official legitimacy. There is neither an entry in the bar register nor any verifiable connection to a legitimate consulting organization.
- de-orion.site („ORION LAW AGENCY“)The prefix "de" suggests a German affiliation; the domain is registered under the generic .site extension – cheap, anonymous and available at short notice.
- hilfe.law („Fraud Help“)The .law domain extension creates an impression of legal legitimacy. The name is specifically optimized for search queries like "fraud help" in order to intercept already defrauded individuals via search engines.
Common pattern: professional-looking presentation, no verifiable company registration in Germany, no affiliation with actual lawyers or specialist institutions. Note: This list serves solely to illustrate typical patterns. No final legal assessment of the individual providers is provided here.
Criminal classification of the recovery scam
Fraud according to § 263 of the German Criminal Code
Recovery scams generally constitute fraud under Section 263 of the German Criminal Code (StGB). The perpetrators deceive their victims about their identity, their licensing, and their actual ability to perform their duties, thereby creating a false impression and inducing them to make a financial transaction – namely, an advance payment. The damage occurs immediately upon payment, as the promised service is never intended from the outset. Organized and repeated offenses constitute commercial fraud under Section 263 Paragraph 3 of the German Criminal Code (StGB), which is punishable by imprisonment of up to ten years.
Further offenses
In addition to Section 263 of the German Criminal Code (StGB), other offenses may apply depending on the specific circumstances. Creating and using forged official letters, fictitious court orders, or imitated law firm letterheads constitutes forgery of documents under Section 267 of the German Criminal Code. Anyone acting as a lawyer without a license or offering legal repatriation services is also committing an administrative offense or a criminal offense under Section 3 in conjunction with Section 20 of the German Legal Services Act (RDG). In cases of cross-border criminal networks with a division of labor, the offense of forming a criminal organization under Section 129 of the German Criminal Code may also apply.
A well-founded criminal complaint, supported by secured communication and payment data, significantly increases the likelihood of a successful investigation. Don't wait too long – digital traces fade.
Legal options for victims of recovery scams in cryptocurrency fraud
Criminal complaint and forensic documentation
The first and most time-sensitive step is to file a criminal complaint with the responsible police station or the specialized public prosecutor's office for cybercrime. The quality of the accompanying documentation is crucial: all communication – emails, chat logs, payment receipts, screenshots – should be fully secured and systematically organized. If payments were processed via cryptocurrencies, a forensic blockchain analysis is necessary to trace the flow of funds and identify the perpetrators.
Civil law recovery
If payments were processed via identifiable bank accounts or payment service providers, claims for unjust enrichment under Sections 812 et seq. of the German Civil Code (BGB) may be considered. If the perpetrators' intent is proven, additional claims for damages under Section 823 Paragraph 2 of the German Civil Code (BGB) in conjunction with Section 263 of the German Criminal Code (StGB) must be examined. For card payments, chargeback procedures can be initiated – this option is generally excluded for crypto payments, which is why forensic transaction data is of particular importance here.
When legal support is advisable in cases of recovery scams
Legal support is advisable in almost every recovery scam case – regardless of whether payment has already been made or whether only initial contact has taken place. If payments were made via cryptocurrencies, specialized legal and forensic expertise is essential for tracing the fraud and securing evidence. From the mid-five-figure range upwards, legal and forensic support is regularly justified in relation to the potential for compensation and prosecution.
Even if no payment has yet been made, it is advisable to verify any contact offer received: Identifying a fraudulent contact early on protects against the full extent of the damage. Those who have already fallen victim to the original scam and are now being contacted by recovery scammers should also save all communication as potential evidence for both fraudulent activities. This communication often contains clues about the infrastructure and people behind the original scam.
If you have been contacted by an alleged recovery service provider: Take action before you pay. An initial consultation with our law firm will clarify your legal position.
Your lawyers for recovery scams and crypto fraud – Rogert & Ulbrich
The law firm Rogert & Ulbrich advises and represents clients nationwide in Area of crypto fraud and online fraud. Our lawyers have many years of experience representing aggrieved investors and crypto investors – from the initial consultation to the legal enforcement of claims for damages.
If you have fallen victim to a recovery scam or received suspicious contact, don't hesitate. Get in touch and protect your rights.
