If someone offers to help you get your money back after being scammed, be careful—that’s likely another scam.

You just found out you were scammed out of $1,000. You feel upset and emotional—and that’s normal. You decide to share what happened on Twitter to warn your friends and family so they don’t fall for the same scam.

Then, out of nowhere, someone claiming to be a “recovery agent” contacts you. They say they can get your money back. It sounds great, but it’s actually another scam.

Don’t let scammers trick you twice! Here’s what you need to know about “recovery scams” and how to stay safe.

How do recovery scams work?

After falling for a scam, you might get a phone call, email, or message on social media from someone claiming to be a government official, lawyer, or “recovery agent.” They might say they already have your money or are working with a court to return it.

However, they will ask you to pay an upfront fee to get your money back. Once you agree, they will likely keep asking for more money, claiming it’s for extra “fees” or taxes. They won’t stop until you run out of money or realize it’s another scam.

Recovery scammers take advantage of your frustration after losing money. They promise to fix everything and get your money back. Some may even claim to be “account recovery agents” who can help you recover a hacked account.

These scams are common in cryptocurrency, where many new users are easy targets. Scammers often search for people who post online about being scammed. They look for their next victims in public tweets or posts.

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Scammers may also use a “sucker list,” according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). These lists include personal information like your social media accounts, phone number, and email address. That’s why scammers might contact you soon after you’ve been scammed, even if you didn’t share your story publicly.

To protect yourself, never send money through Zelle, PayPal Friends and Family, or peer-to-peer Venmo unless you know the person. These services don’t offer refunds if something goes wrong. This is especially risky if the person claims they can recover your account or refund your money.

Is there anyone who can help if I’ve been scammed?

Sadly, there isn’t a special scam recovery team, and the police usually aren’t responsible for getting your money back. This is especially true if the scammer is in another state or country.

Never trust someone claiming to be an “official” agent who says they can recover your money or social media account. Don’t pay any upfront fees or share your bank account information with them.

What you should do if you’ve been scammed

The first step is to contact your bank and explain what happened. They can help protect your accounts from further harm. Next, report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). You can also tell your state’s attorney general to help prevent others from falling for the same scam. If the scammer pretended to be from a real business, report them to these agencies and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Before giving any personal information or money to a business, check its reputation. Websites like Scam Adviser, Website Validator, and URL Void can tell you if a business is trustworthy.

Acting quickly and contacting your bank can improve your chances of getting your money back, according to the National Consumer Law Center. However, depending on how the scam happened, it might not always be possible to recover all your money.