How do I tell if a crypto recovery service is legitimate or a scam?
After my loss I started getting DMs from 'recovery hackers' on Telegram. Every one of them sounds suspicious. What are the red flags?
1 Answer
If you've already been scammed, you are now on a 'sucker list' that's actively bought and sold. Every DM you receive from 'ethical hackers', 'recovery agents', or fake regulators is part of a follow-on fraud industry. Red flags:
- Telegram, Instagram, or WhatsApp DMs — legitimate firms don't cold-DM victims.
- Upfront fees disguised as 'gas', 'tax clearance', or 'IRS verification'.
- Guarantees of any kind. No real forensics firm guarantees recovery.
- Fake police or IC3 'officers' asking for additional payments.
- Screenshots of fake court orders or 'frozen wallets' — these are trivial to fabricate.
Legitimate forensics providers have a registered company address, named partners with traceable LinkedIn history, public case studies, and accept payment only via bank wire or invoice — never crypto, never gift cards. Nethertrace, Chainalysis Crypto Investigations, and TRM Labs are examples of firms operating in this space transparently. If a service refuses to send you an engagement letter on letterhead, walk away.
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