What does fraud recovery fraud offer?
Someone tells you they can recover the money you have already
lost in a fraud.
How does fraud recovery fraud work?
The person contacts you, usually by phone or
email, and tells you they are a lawyer, a law enforcement officer
or someone working for a government agency in another country.
They tell you that they know you have already lost money to a
fraud and they can recover your money for you.
Alternatively, they might claim that the fraudsters who initially
conned you have been apprehended, the money they took has been
seized and it is due to be returned to their victims.
The person who contacts you is not whom they claim to
be, nor will they help you recover the money you have
already lost.
If you respond to their offer of help, they will ask you
for various fees. For example: release fees,
administration fees etc. If you pay these fees, they will keep
coming back to you with another fee that has to be paid before your
money can be returned.
If you ask them to take the fees from the money they claim to
have recovered, they will give reasons why this isn’t possible. For
example: your money is under the control of a court and can only be
paid back to you personally.
The fraudsters may also ask you to provide details of your bank
account so that they can pay your money into it. They will use this
information to empty your account.
How do I recognise fraud recovery fraud?
- Genuine law enforcement and other agencies do not
charge fees when returning money to crime victims. Any
request for fees indicates a fraud - particularly when you are
asked to pay up front
- Criminals committing fraud recovery frauds often use the names
of genuine law firms and agencies. Check any contact
details the fraudsters give you against the real company’s
details. You can check against entries in the telephone directory
or Yellow Pages; the organisation’s web site - bearing in mind
that criminals can copy a genuine website; or regulatory agencies
for lawyers. If the details don’t match, it is likely that you are
dealing with fraudsters
- Genuine government or law enforcement agencies and law firms
do not normally use webmail addresses such as @Yahoo or
@Hotmail. Beware if you are asked to contact one of these
email addresses
- Foreign law enforcement agencies and other official
organisations normally ask UK authorities to help
in returning money to fraud victims. If someone claiming to work
for an official overseas agency contacts you directly, this is a
good indicator of fraud.
What you should do
- Break off all contact with the fraudsters
- Do not send any more money
- If you have given the fraudsters your bank account details,
alert your bank immediately.