Overview
Anyone who has lost money through investment fraud, a dubious trading platform or crypto fraud is often contacted again a few weeks or months later. This time, alleged lawyers, investigative authorities, financial supervisory authorities or specialized “fund recovery” services are reporting. They claim that the lost money has been found or secured and can be paid out - only fees, taxes or a deposit need to be paid beforehand.
It is not uncommon for the same groups of perpetrators or people who acquired their data sets to be behind these offers. They know the name, investment amount and details of the first fraud and therefore appear credible. Logos of authorities, fake documents and the names of actually existing law firms are deliberately misused.
The hope of being able to compensate for a loss is understandable - and that's exactly what this scam is based on. We will help you assess whether an offer is serious and check what legal options are available with regard to the original damage and advance payments already made.
Immediate steps
These steps make sense in most cases – regardless of whether you instruct us.
Do not pay any fees, taxes or deposits for an announced withdrawal. Authorities do not require advance payments to private accounts or cryptocurrencies to return seized funds.
Lawyers can be checked in the nationwide official lawyer directory of the Federal Bar Association (BRAK). For queries, only use contact details from official sources - not those from the message you received.
Do not install any remote maintenance programs and do not pass on passwords, TANs or wallet keys. If this has already happened, inform your bank and change your access data.
Back up emails, chat histories, phone numbers, sent documents and payment requests. These documents are important for filing a criminal complaint and for the legal review.
File a criminal report with the police and add to an existing report about the original fraud. If you have already paid, please inform your bank or payment service provider immediately.
Unsure what to do first in your case?
Legal assessment
We use the available documents to check whether the provider actually exists and is approved or whether names, logos and documents are being misused.
If fees have already been paid, we check, depending on the payment method, whether a recall, a chargeback or claims against the account holders and service providers involved are possible.
Regardless of the recovery scam, we check whether claims can arise from the first case of damage - for example against payment service providers, recipient banks or other parties involved.
If you have concluded a contract with a service provider, we will check its effectiveness, possible cancellation rights and whether any remuneration already paid can be claimed back.
Since the perpetrators obviously have your data, we check which measures make sense to protect against further misuse, for example when passing on copies of ID cards or account access.
Who may be liable
Claims for repayment and compensation for damages may be considered against the persons involved. Since they regularly appear under false identities, enforcement depends on the results of the investigation.
Advance payments are often directed to intermediary accounts. These account holders may be subject to civil claims depending on what they knew or should have known.
Responsibility of participating institutes only comes into consideration under special circumstances. We check whether there are indications of breaches of duty in the specific payment process.
In the case of existing service providers who work for a high upfront fee, it may be possible to legally review the contractual basis and the service provided.
Whether and against whom claims actually exist depends on the individual case and can only be assessed after reviewing the documents.
Preserve evidence
Do not delete anything – not even out of anger or shame. Your account of events is enough for the initial enquiry; documents can be submitted later.
Our approach
Using the form, you describe to us in a few minutes what happened. You can submit documents later.
We review your details, classify the facts and examine against whom claims may be available.
You receive an honest assessment of prospects, risks and costs – and decide for yourself whether to instruct us.
We implement the agreed strategy: towards banks, payment service providers and other parties involved, and in court if necessary.
FAQ
General guidance – it does not replace advice on your individual case.
Reputable law firms do not contact injured parties without being asked and do not promise success. You can check whether a person is admitted to practice as a lawyer in the BRAK's nationwide official lawyer directory. Also check whether the contact details and internet address match the information stored there.
Be skeptical: BaFin does not enforce the claims of individual investors, and authorities do not charge upfront fees for withdrawals to private accounts or in cryptocurrencies. If in doubt, please contact the named office directly using the officially published contact details. BaFin regularly warns on its website about the misuse of its name.
Inform your bank or payment service provider immediately, stop making any further payments and save all documents. Whether a refund is possible depends on the payment method and the individual case. We will examine the steps to be considered together with you.
This depends on the individual case, in particular on the payment methods and whether there are tangible parties involved. In some cases there are starting points, in others there are not. Nobody can give a reliable guarantee - after the test we will tell you openly how we assess your situation.
The initial assessment of your request is free of charge. We will inform you transparently in advance about the costs of further work before you decide whether or not to commission it.
Knowledge centre
Investment fraud
· Manfred Kühn
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.
Brokers
· Manfred Kühn
The trading account shows a balance, but the payout is not made or is linked to new payments. Which steps make sense now and which legal starting points should be considered.
Brokers
· Manfred Kühn
Professional websites and friendly advisors say little about the seriousness of a broker. What warning signs there are before and after the first deposit and how to check approval.
Case review
We will assess which claims may be available and which next steps may make sense.
Your details are treated in confidence. An enquiry does not yet establish a client relationship.
By telephone, by email or via the case review – in confidence and initially without obligation.