Fake crypto recovery services: how to spot a recovery scam
People who promise to recover your stolen crypto for an upfront fee are almost always scammers too.
After a scam, many victims are contacted by someone offering to get their money back. This is one of the most common scams of all, because victims are desperate and easy to find.
Warning signs
- They contacted you first, often in comments under your post or by message.
- They call themselves "recovery experts", "ethical hackers" or "blockchain lawyers" with no verifiable firm.
- They guarantee results or say they can "reverse" a transaction.
- They ask for an upfront fee, a "tax" or a "release fee", usually in crypto.
- They claim to work with the police, the FBI or an exchange.
What real help looks like
- Police, regulators and legitimate lawyers never ask for crypto payments to release funds.
- Real freezes come from exchanges and issuers, after a freeze request and a police report.
- Anyone honest will tell you that a return is never certain.
Before you pay anyone who offers help, check the recovery service against other victims' reports.
If you have already paid a recovery scammer, treat it as a new scam: save the evidence and follow what to do first.
Common questions
Can a hacker get my crypto back?
No. Blockchain transfers cannot be reversed by hacking. Only the company holding the funds, police or a court can freeze or return them.
Is ChainFreeze a recovery service?
No. We trace funds and help you ask exchanges, issuers and police to act. We never promise recovery and never charge 'release' fees.