Recovery scams on the rise
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Recovery scams are increasing, where fraudsters target previous fraud victims by promising to help recover their lost money—for a fee.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre is warning about a disturbing trend: recovery scams, also known as secondary scams, are on the rise. These scams specifically target individuals who have already fallen victim to fraud. Scammers obtain information about previous victims from various sources and contact them claiming to be law enforcement officials, lawyers, government agents, or representatives from recovery companies. They promise to help recover the victim's lost money but require upfront fees, personal information, or bank details to proceed. Some variations include fake 'class action lawsuits,' bogus recovery services, or individuals posing as CAFC representatives. The cruel reality is that these are additional scams designed to victimize people who have already suffered losses. Warning signs include unsolicited contact about recovering lost money, requests for upfront fees or payments, pressure to act quickly, and requests for personal or banking information. Remember: the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre never contacts individuals to offer money recovery services, and legitimate law enforcement will never ask for payment to investigate or recover funds.