Is the Recovery Room Scam real or a scam?

This is a confirmed scam. Do not click any links, do not provide personal information, and do not send money. This is a other scam.

What should I do if I received the Recovery Room Scam?

Do not respond or click any links. Block the sender, report the message as spam, and delete it. If it came via text message, forward it to 7726 (SPAM).

What if I already fell for the Recovery Room Scam?

Change your passwords immediately, contact your bank if you shared financial information, place a fraud alert on your credit, and file a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

How do I report the Recovery Room Scam?

Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov, and your local law enforcement. If it impersonated a specific company, report it to that company as well.

Recovery Room Scam: Is It a Scam?

Medium Prevalence Type: Other

Yes, this is a scam. Do not click any links or provide personal information.

Recovery room scams specifically target people who have already been scammed, promising to recover their lost money for an upfront fee. In many cases, the recovery scammers are the same people who ran the original scam, using stolen victim lists.

How This Scam Works

After losing money to a scam, you may be contacted by someone claiming to be a recovery specialist, law firm, or government agency that can get your money back. They say they have identified the scammers and frozen the funds, but need you to pay legal fees, processing costs, or taxes before they can return your money. They sound professional and may have a convincing website. Victims, desperate to recover their losses, pay the fees. The fees escalate with new obstacles, and no money is ever recovered. Some recovery scammers purchase victim lists from other scammers, knowing these people are vulnerable and motivated.

Red Flags to Watch For

Unsolicited contact from someone claiming to recover your lost money
They found you even though you did not seek recovery help
Upfront fees required before any money is returned
Claims to have already located and frozen scammer funds
Guarantees of full recovery (no one can guarantee this)
Pressure to pay quickly before a deadline or the funds are released

Example Scam Messages

Email: 'Dear victim, our firm specializes in cyber fraud recovery. We have identified the individuals responsible for the scam that defrauded you and have obtained a court order to freeze their assets. To begin the recovery process, a legal retainer fee of $1,500 is required.' --- Phone call: 'This is the Federal Recovery Bureau. We've recovered funds from the scam you were involved in and have $47,000 ready to return to you. However, you need to pay a $3,000 processing and tax compliance fee first.' --- Email: 'We noticed your complaint on the FBI IC3 database. Our recovery team has a 97% success rate. Contact us today to start the process of recovering your money. Initial consultation fee: $750.'

What to Do If You Received This

No legitimate recovery service charges upfront fees
Government agencies do not contact scam victims to offer recovery services
The FBI IC3 database is not publicly searchable
Be skeptical of guaranteed recovery promises
If you need help, contact your bank or a legitimate attorney

What to Do If You Fell For It

Stop all payments immediately
Do not engage further with the recovery scammers
Contact your bank about any payments made
File a new police report for this additional scam
Seek support from legitimate organizations like AARP Fraud Watch (if applicable)

How to Report This Scam

Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
File a complaint with FBI IC3 at ic3.gov
Report to your state attorney general
Report to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint if a fake financial firm

Last updated: February 10, 2026