Anyone who has lost money through investment fraud is often contacted a second time - by alleged helpers who promise to get it back in return for payment in advance. How to recognize such offers.
The loss has barely been processed before a call or an email comes: The lost money has been tracked down, it is in an account and can be retrieved. For people who have just experienced an investment scam, this sounds like the news they were hoping for.
In many cases, however, it is a so-called recovery scam, i.e. a scam after the scam. The alleged helpers demand money in advance for their services and then disappear. Anyone who knows the pattern can protect themselves from a second damage.
How the perpetrators know about the loss
Victims often wonder how a stranger could know the details of their case - the name of the platform, the approximate amount of damage, sometimes even the previous contact person. The explanation is usually simple: this data is available from the original perpetrators. They are reused by the same groups or shared with others.
In addition, perpetrators specifically search for victims, for example in Internet forums, in comment columns and in social networks in which those affected describe their experiences. Advertisements and websites that appear when searching for help can also lead to dubious offers. Detailed knowledge about the case is therefore not evidence of seriousness - quite the opposite.
In which roles the alleged helpers appear
- as a law firm or “legal department”, often based abroad and with a professional-looking website
- as an authority, such as a financial supervisory authority, police, public prosecutor's office or international investigative body
- as a specialist in blockchain analysis or as a “fund recovery” company
- as a bank or payment service provider where the money was allegedly frozen
- as an employee of the original platform who now wants to pay out the money
Names, logos and letterheads of actually existing authorities and law firms are misused. Letters contain file numbers, stamps and signatures that are intended to appear official.
How to recognize a recovery scam
- Contact is made unsolicited by telephone, email or messenger.
- It is assured that the money has already been found or that it will be returned safely.
- Fees, taxes, insurance or transaction costs should be transferred before the alleged payout.
- Payments should be made in crypto assets, via voucher cards or to private accounts abroad.
- Time pressure is built up, for example with a supposedly expiring deadline.
- Remote access to the computer, access data for online banking or copies of ID cards are required.
- The law firm or authority specified cannot be reached using the official contact details or knows nothing about the process.
How serious support differs
It is not unusual for a law firm to demand remuneration for its work, including in the form of an advance. The difference lies in the overall picture: Reputable consultants do not contact injured parties without being asked, they do not guarantee success, explain costs and risks in advance and openly state that in many cases recovery is not or only partially successful.
You can check whether a person is admitted to practice as a lawyer in Germany in the nationwide official list of lawyers. Since perpetrators also use names of actually licensed lawyers, the contact should be checked using the details provided there or on the official law firm website - not using the telephone number from the letter received.
Legal classification and correct behavior
Legally, the recovery scam is an independent fraud according to Section 263 of the Criminal Code. The injured parties are entitled to claims for damages, in particular from Section 823 Paragraph 2 BGB in conjunction with Section 263 StGB and Section 826 BGB. However, as with the first fraud, the perpetrators act anonymously and usually from abroad, which means enforcement is often difficult. If access data was issued and payments were then made without the consent of the account holder, additional reimbursement claims against your own bank may have to be checked in accordance with Sections 675u ff. of the German Civil Code (BGB).
- Don't accept the offer and don't make any payments.
- Do not give out copies of ID cards, access data or release codes and do not allow remote access.
- Save calls, emails and letters and hand them over to the police, if possible in addition to the report already filed.
- If data has already been released or payments have been made: inform the bank immediately and have access blocked.
Conclusion
Unsolicited offers of help following an investment fraud should be treated with great caution, especially if a return is guaranteed and an advance payment is requested. Authorities do not work this way, and serious legal advice does not promise success. Anyone looking for support should take action themselves and check the other person's information via official sources. This article provides general information and does not replace individual legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
No. The data often comes from the original fraud and is reused by the same or other perpetrators. Detailed knowledge is therefore not an indication of an authority or a reputable law firm.
Do not make any further payments and inform your bank or card issuer immediately. Secure all communication and file a criminal complaint or supplement an existing complaint. Whether and against whom claims exist can be checked based on the payment methods.
There are legal starting points, such as claims against identifiable participants or security measures in the investigation process. Whether they pay in a specific case depends on the circumstances, and repayment is not possible in every case. Nobody can seriously promise that the money will be returned safely.
