The FBI in San Diego has seized three websites posing as lost cryptocurrency recovery services, warning of a sophisticated scam targeting victims of previous cryptocurrency scams.
The FBI’s San Diego office announced last week the seizure of three fake cryptocurrency recovery websites: Mychargeback, Payback Ltd., and Claim Justice. The FBI said the companies operated by approaching people who had been scammed with cryptocurrencies, promising to help them recover their assets but instead continuing to steal their money through upfront fees and commissions.
The FBI warned that these companies often make aggressive claims about their ability to recover victims’ money, but there is no concrete evidence to support these claims. Furthermore, these companies often demand upfront fees and commissions if they recover money for their customers. They advertise extensively on social media, including fake reviews, in an effort to build trust and convince victims of the legitimacy of their services.
Victims are often lured in by false promises and forced to pay large sums of money up front for services that are not provided. To add to the appeal, these scammers also claim to have connections to law enforcement agencies or financial institutions to create credibility.
To protect the public from these scams, the FBI recommends that people carefully research companies advertised, avoid contacting strangers offering recovery services, and never provide personal financial information. If someone claims to be affiliated with law enforcement, the FBI recommends verifying their identity before sharing any information.
