Learning how to avoid a Bitcoin recovery scam has never been more important. With the popular cryptocurrency rising sharply since the November 2024 U.S. election, Bitcoin has been in the news a lot. Alas, not all news is good news! Apart from Bitcoin investors, it’s scammers who benefit the most from huge value increases and the associated media hype. Using the attention generated by Bitcoin’s rise, recovery scammers contact scam victims falsely pretending to be representatives from “the Blockchain”. Gaining their targets’ trust, these fraudsters offer to help recover long-lost Bitcoin assets that have supposedly increased in value. But instead of helping with asset recovery, they swindle victims out of even more money in fake fees and charges. But how does it work? And how do you tell who’s genuine from who’s fake? Read on to learn how to avoid a Bitcoin recovery scam and take steps to protect yourself.
Why are Bitcoin recovery scams booming?
On the one hand, Bitcoin scams are as old as the cryptocurrency itself. Operating outside the safeguards and oversight of financial regulators, cryptocurrencies have always drawn their fair share of con artists. But it is in times of cryptocurrency booms, especially during wider economic uncertainty, when scammers strike hardest. That’s because, with people hoping to get rich quickly or worried about missing out, due diligence goes out the window. Basically, a prolonged rise in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether or other cryptocurrencies’ value provides free advertising for scammers. Piggybacking onto media hype, fraudsters then exploit hopeful victims by making it seem like huge wealth is within their grasp. Taking less care than they normally would, their targets lower their guard, and the con is on. Especially in crypto boom times, learn how to avoid a Bitcoin recovery scam – it’s never been more important.
How do Bitcoin recovery scams work?
Regular cryptocurrency scams are bad enough. Scammers trick victims into buying fake Bitcoin, dupe them into sharing access to their crypto wallet or deceive them into transferring Bitcoin to other accounts for non-existing “investments”. But it is Bitcoin recovery scams, also known as Blockchain impersonation scams, that bite even harder. That’s because recovery scammers pretend to help people recoup their Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency losses from initial investment scams. Instead of providing support, however, they simply defraud victims a second time with bogus fees and charges. Let’s look at the tell-tale signs, so you’ll learn how to avoid a Bitcoin recovery scam and keep yourself safe.
Targeting Past Scam Victims
To begin with, Bitcoin recovery scammers typically contact people out of the blue who have previously fallen victim to scams. Pretending to be from “the Blockchain”, a financial regulator or law enforcement, scammers inform their targets of supposedly good news. They claim to have found a long-lost wallet or account in the victim’s name with dramatically increased Bitcoin value. However, the blockchain doesn’t work like this: there’s no database of crypto holdings or wallets to be searched by name. Instead, fraudsters are simply looking for soft targets which is why they’re especially interested in previous scam victims. So how do they know someone has been the victim of a past scam? Well, they either purchased the information from other scammers or they were the original fraudsters themselves. Sometimes the asset recovery scammers contact victims months after the original scam, and on other occasions it can even be years later. This is the first lesson in learning how to avoid a Bitcoin recovery scam: previous scam victims beware!
The below image demonstrates the impersonation approach these recovery scammers take, utilising the real Blockchain.com logo and contacting past investment fraud victims about the supposed recovered funds.
Spinning False Stories
Once the Bitcoin recovery scammers have contacted victims, they work hard to convince them that unexpected wealth has come their way. Cybertrace investigators have analysed this playing out in different ways, using the carrot or the stick approach. In the carrot version, scammers resuscitate the original scam by lying about an unexpected windfall from it. Conversely, the stick involves the fake “Blockchain representative” claiming that scammers have used the victim’s identity to trade illegally. Either way, scammers lure victims with the promise they can avoid legal trouble and easily access great “recovered” wealth. Unfortunately, it is simply not possible to search Bitcoin wallets or accounts by name and find someone’s “unclaimed funds”. It’s an alluring lie that relies on victims’ lack of knowledge about how cryptocurrencies and the blockchain work. Therefore, here’s our second lesson in learning how to avoid a Bitcoin recovery scam: learn how the blockchain really works!
Demanding Fake Fees and Charges
If victims believe Bitcoin recovery scammers that large piles of crypto are awaiting them, the fraudsters’ job is almost done. That’s because the promise of great wealth at one’s fingertips short-circuits victims’ caution. Instead, victims are susceptible to scammers’ lies that all it takes for them to access their Bitcoin is one last step. However, whether scammers ask for “capital gains tax charges”, “anti-money laundering fees” or “mirror transaction payments”, they’re all falsehoods. If you needed to pay tax, you’d pay it to the tax office. If law enforcement issued you with a fine, you’d pay it to the appropriate authorities. If anyone wanted to transfer “recovered” Bitcoin to your wallet or account, they don’t need anything besides your wallet address. All the scammers want is more of your money, so our third lesson in learning how to avoid a Bitcoin recovery scam is simply: don’t pay them a cent!
How do you avoid becoming a victim of Bitcoin recovery scams?
In a time when fake and real become increasingly hard to distinguish, it is even more important to remain vigilant. By being aware of how scammers operate, you can protect yourself and your family from their dirty tricks. As we have seen, learning how to avoid a Bitcoin recovery scam comes down to three key principles. First, if you have already been the victim of a scam, beware of anyone contacting you out of the blue. Second, educate yourself about how the blockchain works and why someone can’t simply “recover” your money without your input. Finally, if someone wants to transfer Bitcoin to you, fine – but don’t give them a cent of your own money!
What do you do if Bitcoin recovery scammers have already got to you?
If, despite your best defences, some ruthless fraudsters already managed to trick you, don’t despair. Instead, contact Cybertrace and let our team of experienced investigators help you trace and identify the scammers. Identifying who stole your money is the only way to get any of it back, as our clients can attest. So, learn how to avoid a Bitcoin recovery scam, turn the tables on scammers and reach out to Cybertrace today.
