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Scam simulator · After a scam

The Offer to Get Your Money Back

After you’ve lost money to a scam, a message arrives from someone who says they can get it back. They know exactly how much you lost. Practice what to do, and see why the people who really can help never charge a fee.

  • About 5 minutes
  • 6 decisions
  • Common in: US, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland: it targets anyone who has already lost money to a scam

Why it matters: Canadians reported losing $25.9 million to "recovery pitch" scams in 2025, the sixth most costly type of fraud that year. (Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, February 2026)

A few months ago, you lost $38,400 to a fake investment website called Norvanta Trade. The people behind it were skilled, organized criminals, and you were far from the only person they fooled. You’d give a great deal to get that money back.

Below, each step shows what you'd see, the choices people make, and why each one is safe or risky. The summary at the end tells you what to look for and what to do.

You'll see each message or call as it would really look. Choose what you'd do, and you'll find out why. Nothing here is real: no messages are sent and nothing you choose leaves your device.

  1. Step 1 of 6 First contact

    One morning, an email arrives. The subject line mentions the company that took your money.

    Practice screen Email

    Inbox

    Case IFRB-5521: Your Norvanta Trade funds ($38,400)

    International Fund Recovery Bureau <[email protected]>

    To: me

    This sender is not in your contacts.

    Dear Investor,

    Our records show that on March 14 you transferred $38,400 to Norvanta Trade, a platform now under international investigation.

    Your name appears on a government-affiliated list of fraud victims who are eligible for recovery through legal channels. Our investigators work alongside federal cybercrime agencies.

    To open your recovery file, reply to this email or call your case officer on (202) 555-0184.

    This matter is strictly confidential.

    Open my recovery file

    What do you do?

    Not sure? Show a hint

    Who could know exactly how much you lost, and when?

    1. Reply. They know the exact amount and the company’s name, so they must be real.

      Risky choice

      The detail is what makes it feel real, but it’s the biggest warning sign. The people who know exactly what you lost are the criminals who took it, and anyone they’ve sold your details to. Replying tells them you’re interested.

    2. Call the case officer’s number and ask a few questions first.

      Risky choice

      That number goes straight to the scammers, and they’re trained to answer every question smoothly. Asking questions of the person who contacted you can’t show whether they’re genuine.

    3. Don’t reply or call. Talk it over with my family, and ask my bank or the police about my case, using numbers I find myself.

      Safe choice

      That’s the safe choice. Anyone can claim to work with the authorities, and no genuine agency will ask you to pay to get your money back. If you want to know where your case stands, your bank and the police can tell you, and it won’t cost anything.

    Red flags at this step

    • A stranger contacts you about money you lost
    • They know your exact loss, the date and the scam company’s name
    • A “government-affiliated list” of victims
    • Secrecy: “strictly confidential”

    What's really going on

    Recovery scammers target people who have already been scammed. The FTC says they “buy lists of people who’ve already been scammed”, and the FBI has warned about fake law firms that know the exact amounts, dates and company names from the first scam. Some tell victims they’re on “a government-affiliated list of scam victims”. The FBI says no law firm is an official partner of US government agencies.

  2. Step 2 of 6 The hook

    Suppose you do reply, even just to ask how they got your details. A friendly case officer answers within the hour, with good news.

    Practice screen Chat app message
    Case Officer L. BennettChat app
    1. Thank you for contacting us. I have excellent news. Our blockchain team has traced your $38,400 to a crypto wallet, and it has now been frozen.10:48 am
    2. A federal cybercrime agent assigned to your file will call you today to confirm your identity. Please keep this confidential while the investigation is active.10:49 am

    What do you do?

    Not sure? Show a hint

    Can you check any of this yourself?

    1. Feel hopeful, and wait for the agent’s call.

      Risky choice

      Hope is exactly what they’re offering, and it’s hard to turn down after a loss. But “we’ve traced your money” is a standard line in recovery scams, and you have no way to check it. The call that follows is part of the same script.

    2. Ask them to send everything in writing, on official letterhead.

      Better, but not the safest

      It feels careful, but letterhead is easy to fake, and they’ll happily send it. Paperwork from the person who contacted you can’t prove who they are.

    3. Stop. Call my bank and the police on numbers I find myself, and ask them about my case.

      Safe choice

      Well done. If there’s any real progress in getting your money back, your bank or the police will know, and they won’t charge you anything. Checking with them takes the power away from the stranger.

    Red flags at this step

    • “We’ve traced your money” or “your funds have been frozen”
    • A promise that an official will contact you
    • Being asked to keep it confidential

    What's really going on

    Scammers know that someone who has lost savings badly wants to believe it can be put right. “Tracing” a crypto payment sounds technical and convincing, and you can’t check it. Asking you to keep it confidential stops you talking to your bank or your family.

  3. Step 3 of 6 Winning your trust

    That afternoon, a video call comes in. A man in a suit sits at a desk with a flag and an official seal behind him. He holds a badge up to the camera.

    Practice screen Phone call

    Incoming video call

    (202) 555-0184

    1. Caller: “Good afternoon. I’m Special Agent Mark Collins with the FBI’s cybercrime division. I’m working with the recovery bureau on your file.”
    2. Caller: “We’ve confirmed the frozen funds belong to you. Before they can be released, we have to verify your identity and complete a court filing. The bureau will explain the next step.”

    The badge and the seal look official. Now and then, his face seems slightly blurred when he moves.

    An FBI agent is on video. What do you do?

    Not sure? Show a hint

    Would the FBI really call you, working with a private company?

    1. Believe him. I can see him, and his badge.

      Risky choice

      Seeing someone on video used to feel like proof. Now criminals can use AI to appear on video as officials, and badges and seals are easy to copy. The FBI has warned about exactly this.

    2. Ask for his badge number so I can check it later.

      Better, but not the safest

      He’ll give you one without hesitating, and it will sound real. A number from the caller proves nothing. The only way to check is to contact the agency yourself, using details you find yourself.

    3. End the call. I’ll go to the FBI’s complaint website, ic3.gov, by typing the address myself.

      Safe choice

      Exactly right. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center says it will never contact you directly by phone, email or social media, and it will never ask for payment to recover lost funds. Type ic3.gov into your browser yourself, rather than searching for it.

    Red flags at this step

    • A video call from someone who says they’re a federal agent
    • A badge or seal held up to the camera
    • An “official” working with a private recovery company

    What's really going on

    In July 2026, the FBI warned that criminals are pretending to be staff of its Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and using AI-made “deepfake” videos of FBI officials to reach people who’ve already been scammed. In a separate warning, it said AI lets scammers appear as officials on video calls. The FBI says the IC3 will never contact you directly, and will never ask for payment to recover lost funds.

  4. Step 4 of 6 The ask

    After the call, the recovery bureau sends another email.

    Practice screen Email

    Inbox

    Case IFRB-5521: Retainer required to release your funds

    International Fund Recovery Bureau <[email protected]>

    To: me

    Following your verification with the federal agent, your recovery has been approved.

    To begin the release, a one-time retainer and processing fee of $1,850 must be received within 48 hours.

    Payment is accepted by wire transfer, cryptocurrency or prepaid gift cards.

    Once the fee is received, your $38,400 will be returned to you in 5 to 7 business days.

    View payment instructions

    They want $1,850 to return $38,400. What do you do?

    Not sure? Show a hint

    Does anyone who genuinely helps scam victims charge a fee first?

    1. Pay it. It’s a small price to get $38,400 back.

      Risky choice

      The numbers are the trap: a small fee against a big refund feels like a sensible trade. But there is no refund. The $1,850 goes to criminals, possibly the same ones as before, and it opens the door to more fees.

    2. Offer to pay the fee once the money has arrived.

      Better, but not the safest

      They’ll have a reason why the fee must come first: rules, the court, the bank. There’s no version of this where paying them gets your money back.

    3. Refuse. Real help to recover scam losses never comes with an upfront fee.

      Safe choice

      That’s right. The FBI says the IC3 “will never ask for payment to recover lost funds.” UK police say the same: “The police or government agencies will never ask for fees to recover money you have lost to fraud.” Your bank and the police don’t charge for their help.

    Red flags at this step

    • An upfront fee: a “retainer”, “processing fee” or “administrative charge”
    • Payment by cryptocurrency, gift cards or wire transfer
    • A deadline

    What's really going on

    The FTC says recovery scammers ask for a “retainer fee”, “processing fee” or “administrative charge”, and that neither government agencies nor legitimate organizations will ever ask for money in exchange for help getting a refund. The FBI says fake law firms ask to be paid in cryptocurrency or prepaid gift cards.

  5. Step 5 of 6 The ask

    Suppose the fee was paid. A few days later, you’re given a login to a secure “client portal”. Your money is right there on the screen.

    Practice screen Web page

    ifrb-client.secure-release.net/portal

    Client Recovery Portal

    Recovered balance: $38,400.00

    Status: On hold pending bank verification

    For anti-money-laundering reasons, a bank verification fee of $3,960 must be paid before funds can be released to your account. This fee cannot be deducted from the recovered balance.

    Pay verification fee

    Your money is on the screen. What do you do?

    Not sure? Show a hint

    If the money were really there, why couldn’t the fee come out of it?

    1. Pay the verification fee. The money is so close now.

      Risky choice

      The balance is just a number typed onto a web page the scammers built. It isn’t in any bank. There will always be one more fee: a tax, a court charge, a certificate. Each payment adds to your loss.

    2. Ask them to take the fee out of the recovered money.

      Better, but not the safest

      It’s the obvious question, and they’ll have an answer ready: “for legal reasons” it can’t be deducted. That excuse is the giveaway. Real money could pay its own fees.

    3. Stop paying. Call my bank and report it, including the fee I’ve already paid.

      Safe choice

      That’s the right move. Stopping now protects what you have left. Tell your bank about every payment straight away; the sooner they know, the more they can try to do.

    Red flags at this step

    • A web page showing money you can’t withdraw
    • A fee that “can’t be taken out” of the money
    • A new fee after you’ve paid the last one

    What's really going on

    The FBI has described scammers telling victims that “payment of bank fees is required to verify identity and ownership to withdraw funds.” Report Fraud, the UK’s police reporting service, warns that if you pay recovery fraudsters, “they’ll keep coming back to you with another cost that has to be paid.”

  6. Step 6 of 6 Afterwards

    Weeks later, the portal stops loading and the email address no longer works. Then a new email arrives, from a different firm.

    Practice screen Email

    Inbox

    We help victims of the "International Fund Recovery Bureau"

    Global Asset Retrieval Solicitors <[email protected]>

    To: me

    Dear Client,

    We understand you may have lost funds to a company calling itself the International Fund Recovery Bureau. Our legal team specializes in recovering money from recovery fraud.

    We work on a no-win, no-fee basis. A small registration fee of $450 applies.

    Register my claim

    Another firm offers to help. What do you do?

    Not sure? Show a hint

    Who started this conversation: you or them?

    1. Reply. Maybe this firm is genuine, and it’s only $450.

      Risky choice

      This is a third attempt, and it’s common: once someone has paid, their details get passed around. Anyone who contacts you out of the blue offering to recover money for a fee is running a scam, even if they say they fight scammers.

    2. Don’t reply. Go to my bank and the police, report both losses, and ask what free help there is.

      Safe choice

      Well done. Real help comes from your bank, the police and the official reporting services, and it’s free. Report the first scam and the recovery scam as separate crimes. Being targeted again is not a sign you did anything wrong.

    Red flags at this step

    • Another stranger offering to recover your money
    • “No win, no fee”, but with a fee
    • Contact that started with them, not you

    What's really going on

    Real recovery happens through your own bank and the police, and it doesn’t cost anything. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre warns: “If you’ve been a victim of fraud in the past, there is a very good chance you will be targeted again.” The FTC says government agencies and legitimate organizations will never ask for money to help you get a refund.

What really happened

The International Fund Recovery Bureau, the case officer and the federal agent were all invented. The people behind them either ran the first scam or bought your details from those who did. There was no traced wallet and no recovered balance, only new fees, each one presented as the last. Real help, from your bank and the police, never asks you to pay. If this has happened to you, please don’t carry it alone: being targeted twice is common, and it is not your fault.

Read your summary

Test your family

How would your family do?

Send this simulator to a parent, grandparent or friend. They try it on their own phone or computer, and at the end they can send their score straight back to you, so you can see which steps caught them out. Then talk it over together.

Nothing is sent to us. Your first name and their score travel only inside the link you send, after the # sign, which web browsers never send to our website.

From simulator to confidence

Protect the whole family with Scam-Proof

This simulator is one scam. Scam-Proof puts 50 of today's scams in one calm, large-print book to keep by the phone, for you and the people you love.

This scam is in the book. Scam 38 in the book's 50-scam library covers the recovery scam, and Chapter 11 walks you through the first hour, day and week after a scam.

  • Spot the three-part pattern behind almost every scam: pressure, secrecy and strange payment
  • Handle fake bank, tax, Medicare and tech-support calls with word-for-word scripts
  • Catch out cloned-voice “grandchild in trouble” calls with a family safe word
  • Check a text, email or website before you tap anything
  • A 50-scam library with the tell and the fix for each
  • 20 "Say This" scripts for tricky calls and messages

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Summary · keep this

Money recovery offer: what to look for and what to do

Remember: Nobody who genuinely helps scam victims charges a fee to get money back. If someone contacts you offering to recover your money, don’t reply: go to your bank and the police yourself.

What to look for

  • Someone contacts you, out of the blue, about money you lost
  • They know your exact loss, the date and the scam company’s name
  • A claim that you’re on a government list of victims
  • A “federal agent”, lawyer or regulator on a video or phone call
  • An upfront retainer, processing fee, tax or bank verification fee
  • A website showing your money, which you can’t withdraw
  • Fees that “can’t be taken out” of the recovered money
  • Payment by cryptocurrency, gift cards or wire transfer

What to do

A firm or agency contacts you offering to recover your money
Don’t reply or call. Contact your bank and the police yourself, using numbers you find yourself.
A caller or video says they’re from the FBI or the police
End the call. Look up the agency’s number yourself. In the US, type ic3.gov directly into your browser.
Someone asks for a fee to release your money
Refuse. Police and government agencies never charge a fee to recover lost money.
You want real help getting money back
Start with your bank, then report it to the official service for your country (below). It’s free.

If you've already paid, clicked or shared details

Don't be embarrassed. These scams are run by professionals, and acting fast gives you the best chance of stopping the damage.

  1. Stop paying. Don’t pay any more fees, however close the money seems.
  2. Call your bank straight away, on the number on your card, and tell them about every payment, including the first scam.
  3. If you shared online banking details or card numbers, change your passwords and ask your bank to check for new payees.
  4. Report the recovery scam as a new crime (see below), with the emails, web addresses and receipts.
  5. Tell someone you trust. Being targeted twice is common, and it’s not your fault.

Where to get help and report it

United States

  • Money gone or card details shared? Call your bank or card company now, on the number on the back of your card.
  • Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and, for anything online, to the FBI at ic3.gov.
  • Aged 60 or over? The National Elder Fraud Hotline can help you report and recover: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1‑833‑372‑8311), Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm Eastern.
  • Free advice from trained volunteers: AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline, 877‑908‑3360. You don’t need to be a member.
  • Scam texts: forward them to 7726 (spells SPAM).
  • Gave out personal details? Get a recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov and think about a free credit freeze.
  • Someone coming to your door to collect money? Call 911.
  • Type ic3.gov yourself. The FBI warns that scammers pretend to be its complaint center; the real website is ic3.gov, and the IC3 never contacts people directly or asks for payment.
  • Feeling low or overwhelmed? You can talk to someone free, any time: call or text 988.

United Kingdom

  • Money gone or card details shared? Call 159 to reach your bank safely (it works for most major banks), or use the number on your card.
  • Report it to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.
  • Tricked into a bank transfer? Ask your bank about a refund. UK rules cover most transfers up to £85,000 if you claim within 13 months.
  • Scam texts: forward them free to 7726. Scam emails: forward them to [email protected].
  • Free, confidential advice: Age UK Advice Line, 0800 678 1602.
  • Someone coming to your door to collect money or cards? Call 999.
  • Asked for a fee to recover your money? Report Fraud says the police and government agencies never ask for one.
  • Feeling low or overwhelmed? Samaritans are there any time, free, on 116 123.

Australia

  • Money gone or card details shared? Call your bank now, on the number on your card or in your banking app.
  • Report it to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au. If it happened online, also report it to police through ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au.
  • Gave out personal details or ID? IDCARE gives free help: 1800 595 160.
  • Not sure what to do? The Australian Cyber Security Hotline is 1300 CYBER1 (1300 292 371). For police, call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.
  • Scam texts: report them to Scamwatch. Telstra customers can also forward them to 7226; other providers may too, so ask yours.
  • Someone coming to your door to collect money or cards? Call 000.
  • Feeling low or overwhelmed? Lifeline is there 24 hours a day on 13 11 14.

Canada

  • Money gone or card details shared? Call your bank now, on the number on your card.
  • Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1‑888‑495‑8501 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4:45pm Eastern) or online at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca. Tell your local police too.
  • Scam texts: forward them to 7726.
  • Gave out personal details? Ask Equifax and TransUnion to put a fraud alert on your credit file.
  • Someone coming to your door to collect money or cards? Call 911.
  • Feeling low or overwhelmed? You can talk to someone free, any time: call or text 988.

New Zealand

  • Money gone or card details shared? Call your bank now, on the number on your card.
  • Report it to Police on 105 (or 105.police.govt.nz) and to the National Cyber Security Centre at ncsc.govt.nz/report or 0800 114 115.
  • Free advice: Netsafe, 0508 638 723.
  • Scam texts: forward them free to 7726.
  • Gave out personal details or ID? IDCARE gives free help: 0800 121 068.
  • Someone coming to your door to collect money or cards? Call 111.
  • Feeling low or overwhelmed? Call or text 1737, free, any time, to talk to a trained counselor.

Ireland

  • Money gone or card details shared? Call your bank now, on the number on your card.
  • Report it at your local Garda station. In an emergency, call 999 or 112.
  • Scam texts: mark them as spam and block the sender. Texts from unregistered senders now show as “Likely Scam”.
  • Check before you invest: search the Central Bank of Ireland register at registers.centralbank.ie. Scam alerts from Irish banks are at fraudsmart.ie.
  • Feeling low or overwhelmed? Samaritans are there any time, free, on 116 123.

The rules that stop almost every scam

  • Hang up and call back on a number you find yourself: the back of your card, a bill, or the official website.
  • Never share a code sent to your phone, and never let anyone who contacted you take control of your computer or phone.
  • Never move money to keep it safe. No bank, police force or government agency will ever ask you to.
  • Gift cards, crypto, Bitcoin machines, wire transfers, cash couriers and gold are how scammers get paid. Anyone who asks for them is a scammer.
  • Secrecy and hurry are the giveaways. Anyone who tells you not to tell your bank or family, or to act right now, is working against you.
  • Tell someone. Talk it over with a family member, a friend or your bank before you pay anyone you didn’t plan to pay.

Phone numbers and web addresses were checked on 28 September 2026. They can change; if one doesn't work, search for the organization's official website, and please let us know.

Sources we checked

The people, numbers, companies and web addresses shown in this simulator are made up. The way the scam works is taken from real cases reported by police, regulators and consumer groups.

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Prefer to read? Where to Report a Scam in 2026: US, UK, Australia and Canada

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