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Fraud Perpetrator Stole from You? They May Come Back for More
When a fraud perpetrator steals from you, it can be devastating. And an offer to help recover those funds can bring a renewed sense of hope. Sadly, criminals know this and use recovery scams to exploit that hope and steal even more.
How It Works
- If you've been the victim of a scam, you may receive a call, email, text, social media message, or letter from someone claiming they can help get your money back.
- The person may say they represent law enforcement, a government agency, a law firm, or another organization that specializes in recovering stolen money.
- They could know details about your original scam and offer services, such as filing complaint paperwork on your behalf, or promise to speed up reimbursement.
- To get started, they often ask for personal information and request upfront fees, such as processing charges, administrative costs, or retainer fees.
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What You Should Know
- Criminals often share or sell information about people who have experienced fraud, making them targets for additional scams.
- Recovery fraud perpetrators may impersonate legitimate organizations and trusted institutions. Just because someone knows about your situation doesn't mean they're there to help.
- Demands for upfront fees, taxes, processing costs, or "release" fees are a glaring sign of a scam.
What You Should Do
- Don't trust or engage with unsolicited recovery offers.
- Before working with any recovery service you find, search their name online alongside terms like reviews, complaints, or scam, and verify their contact information through official websites.
- Seek a trusted second opinion. Contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 for free guidance and support.
Knowledge gives you power over scams. The AARP Fraud Watch Network equips you with reliable, up-to-date insights and connects you to our free fraud helpline so you can better protect yourself and loved ones. We also advocate at the state, federal and local levels to enact policy changes that protect consumers and enforce laws.
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Helping the consumer avoid identity theft, dating scams, tax fraud and moreAbout AARP Fraud Watch Network
Help fight fraud with AARP's Fraud Watch Network, a free resource. Learn how to spot and report scams, and get alerts to stay ahead of scammers.