SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
Scam Victims Lose Money & Need Help To Recover It!
After the scam financial control is vital, plus there are real opportunities to recover!
The first step after your scam ends is to lock down and control your financial situation. Here are articles that may help you with those efforts and provide guidance for things to consider.
In addition, there are real opportunities to recover money – some have come and gone, and some may still be options. You will have to review the statuses with the entities involved to determine if they are still active or if you qualify.
We present this information to help you explore topics with your financial professionals and law enforcement. We can make no warranty about the specifics of each since we present the information as we understand it and as presented by reliable sources. In all such cases, you should consult law enforcement, a financial professional or an attorney before taking any specific action.
Remember, this information is presented as is and can become dated and obsolete
We will update this from time to time as new information becomes available.
The First Step – Get Organized
Get organized. We strongly recommend that you organize all of your transactions before talking to anyone.
You have 2 choices to help you get organized:
- SCARS free organization information here: https://romancescamsnow.com/dating-scams/a-scam-victims-checklist-interacting-with-the-police/
- SCARS publishes a complete online crime organizer (the SCARS RED BOOK) that is available at shop.AgainstScams.org at a small cost.
MONEY RECOVERY
Please note that it is possible to recover money after a scam ends, but speed is important. The longer you wait to report to your LOCAL POLICE the less chance you have of getting your money back.
DO NOT listen to amateurs, most are spreading false information. Here are the FACTS!
Bank Wire Transfers
According to Interpol, it is possible to “claw back” or recall bank wire transfers.
- Contact your bank immediately and ask them to do it. Many times they will not because they may end up losing money in this process.
- File your local police report and get the police report number. Ask the local police to contact your bank and get the wire reversed.
- If the bank will still not do it, read the following and give your police the Interpol link contained in the articles. It is a process that has been established worldwide to recall wire transfers up to a year after the transfer takes place. https://romancescamsnow.com/dating-scams/according-to-interpol-it-may-not-be-too-late/
- If the bank still refuses to reverse the wire, we encourage you to explore litigation against your bank.
Cryptocurrency Transfers
One of the unique properties of cryptocurrency is that it can be easily traced and tracked and recovered. Once again, urgency is the critical factor, but crypto can be traced for a long time.
- File your local police report and get the police report number. Ask the local police to trace the crypto and recover it. They have access to the tools to do this – though many agencies do not know this.
- They may have to contact a State/Provincial cybercrime police unit to gain access to these tools, or they can obtain them directly. You will have to apply pressure if they resist and advocate for yourself.
- There are two companies that make the software to help police agencies track crypto – it is not for consumers, just for the police. But they can get it and use it immediately to recover your crypto funds:
- Chainalysis https://www.chainalysis.com/
- Blockchain Intelligence Group https://blockchaingroup.io/
- You may have to bypass the police and talk to the local district attorney’s office or state/provincial attorney’s office for support in getting this done. But Police and Prosecutors around the U.S. are recovering crypto every day now.
WARNING – FEE-BASED MONEY RECOVERY
- There is a multitude of money recovery businesses – some real and most are fake/scams.
- Before using any such service always verify that they are real and incorporated in their state/province/country – you can do this online. If you do not know how to do this then avoid them altogether!
- Never do business with any money recovery business that asks for money upfront. Only do it on a contingency or commission basis after the money is recovered.
- They cannot help you with bank wire transfers or cryptocurrency – your police only can do those.
-/ 30 /-
What do you think about this?
Please share your thoughts in a comment below!
Article Rating
Table of Contents
POPULAR ARTICLES
Rapid Report Scammers
In the U.S. & Canada
U.S. & Canada Suicide Lifeline 988
ARTICLE META
RATE THIS ARTICLE?
LEAVE A COMMENT?
Thank you for your comment. You may receive an email to follow up. We never share your data with marketers.
Recent Comments
On Other Articles
on Financial Recovery – Avoid Money Triggers – Perspective on Money for Scam Victims – 2023 [UPDATED 2025]: “This article is excellent. This is something I needed to read. Thank you!” Jun 18, 16:26
on Scam Victim Apathy – Scams Are Somebody Else’s Problem: “This is a concept I hadn’t considered before. And the Tall Poppy Syndrome is something I’ve not heard of. I…” Jun 17, 13:17
on After The Scam – Victims Frequently Engage In Self-Defeating Behaviors: “Thank you for this article! I have always been my worst critic. Then it all just spirals down into self…” Jun 17, 10:48
Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- Enroll in FREE SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
A Note About Labeling!
We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here to go to our ScamsNOW.com website.
Lots of good information here. I had no luck with the claw back of my wire transfers due to the elapsed time of several months, but I am glad we tried. I wish I had more confidence in my local police to track down my money or the criminals.