Is 'ReturnSwift' asking for a 'digital asset transfer tax' just another scam after losing my savings?
Hi everyone, i'm really desperate here. I lost a significant amount of my savings, about $15,000, in a crypto investment scam a few months ago. It was horrible, my husband was so upset. I felt so stupid. I reported it to the local police here in Ras Al Khaimah, but they said it's very difficult to trace. Then, out of nowhere, i got an email from a company called 'ReturnSwift'. They said they track lost funds and can recover my crypto. They even had some details about my original scam, which made me think they were legit. They've been very professional on the phone. But now, after all the 'investigation' they did, they're asking for a 'digital asset transfer tax' before they can release my funds back to my wallet. It's about $1,200. I just don't know if I can trust them. I already lost so much. Is this a real thing? Or am I about to be scammed again?
10 Answers
Oh no, Aisha, this sounds like a classic recovery scam. I'm sorry to hear you're going through this again after your initial loss. That 'digital asset transfer tax' is a huge red flag. Legitimate recovery services, whether they're law enforcement or private firms, do not ask for upfront fees like this before releasing your funds. Especially not a 'tax' that you supposedly need to pay to them directly. If funds were truly recovered, they'd be returned to you, and any legitimate taxes would be handled *after* you receive them, through proper governmental channels, not paid to a third-party company. The fact they have some details about your original scam is common – scammers often share or sell victim lists. Please, do not send them any more money. Cut off contact immediately. You've already suffered enough.
Hey Aisha, I'm so sorry you're in this position, it's just awful. It sounds like you're being targeted again, and it's a terrible feeling. I've heard so many stories like yours, where scammers come back for a second bite of the apple. That 'digital asset transfer tax' is definitely not a real thing you'd pay to a recovery company. Think about it, if they genuinely had your money, why would they need *more* of yours to give it back? It makes no sense. Please, please don't pay them. You've been through enough. Reporting them to places like your local police again, and maybe even the BBB, could help, but mainly just protect yourself now. Stay strong.
Aisha, please listen to me. As someone living in Dubai, I've seen countless stories like this in the Gulf region. This is a 100% scam, a secondary scam targeting victims. They call them 'recovery scams.' The 'digital asset transfer tax' is a made-up fee. There is no such thing that you would pay to a private company. They know you're vulnerable because you've already lost money, and they use that to manipulate you. The fact they had details of your original scam is because your information was likely sold to other scammers, a common practice in these criminal networks. Do NOT pay them. Block their emails and numbers. You need to be extremely careful now, because once they know you're receptive, they'll keep trying with different names and tactics. Be safe.
Ugh, another one of these. Aisha, I'm really sorry to say, but 'ReturnSwift' is trying to scam you again. That 'digital asset transfer tax' is completely fabricated. Real financial institutions or authorities would never ask for an upfront payment like that to release your own funds. This is how they trick people: they give you hope, show you some info (which they got from lists of previous scam victims), and then invent a 'fee' to extract more money. It's a classic advance-fee scam, just dressed up with crypto terms. Do not send them a single cent. You will lose that money too, and never see your original funds. It's heartbreaking, but it's the truth. Report them to your local authorities if you can.
G'day Aisha. This is unfortunately a very common tactic down here in Australia too, and around the world. Anyone asking for an upfront 'tax,' 'fee,' or 'certificate' payment *before* they can release your own money is a scammer. Full stop. No legitimate recovery service, whether it's the police, a regulator like ASIC, or a real legal firm, operates that way. They get paid *after* a successful recovery, or they charge a clearly defined legal fee. A 'digital asset transfer tax' is a made-up term to sound official. They feed on your desperation. Please, for your own sake, do not give them another dollar. Block them and try to move on. It's tough, but you can't afford to lose more.
Mon Dieu, Aisha, I'm so sorry this is happening to you. I went through something similar last year. I lost a good chunk of savings to a forex scam, and then a few weeks later, 'Funds Recovery Group' contacted me. They had so many details, it felt so real. They promised to get my money back but then asked for a 'legal administrative fee' before they could 'transfer the recovered funds.' I paid it, about €800, because I was so desperate to get my money back. And guess what? Nothing. They disappeared. That's exactly what 'ReturnSwift' is doing to you with their 'digital asset transfer tax.' Don't fall for it like I did. It's a cruel trick. Don't let them make you a victim twice.
Aisha, from one person in the UAE to another, please be extremely careful. That 'digital asset transfer tax' is a complete fabrication. We don't have such a tax that needs to be paid to a private company before funds are returned. This is a common tactic used by 'recovery' scams. They often target people who've already lost money, knowing they're more likely to fall for another attempt out of desperation. The fact they have some details about your previous scam is worrying, but it just means your information was compromised, not that they're legitimate. Do not engage further. Block them and protect any remaining assets you have.
Oh gosh, Aisha, this hits home. I was scammed for about €7,000 last year in a fake investment. A few months later, I got an email from 'MoneyBack Hero.' They seemed so professional, showed me a 'report' on my lost funds, and then asked for a 'security clearance fee' of €1,000 to release everything. I was so convinced they were real, I almost borrowed money from my sister to pay it. Luckily, my partner, who's usually really chill, freaked out and told me to check online. It was a recovery scam. That 'digital asset transfer tax' is the same thing, just a different name. Please, don't pay them. You'll just lose more.
Absolutely a scam, Aisha. I live here in Waterford and it's heartbreaking how many people get caught in these secondary scams. Anyone, and I mean *anyone*, asking for an upfront fee to 'recover' your lost funds, especially using terms like 'tax' or 'clearance fee,' is a fraudster. Legitimate recovery, if it's even possible, doesn't require you to pay them to get *your own money back*. If funds were recovered, they would be returned to you. They use vague legal-sounding terms to confuse and pressure you. Please, cut off all communication with 'ReturnSwift' and save yourself from another loss. Your initial loss was awful, don't let them profit from your pain again.
Aisha, I'm sorry to be blunt, but this is a classic recovery scam, and 'ReturnSwift' is definitely not legitimate. The 'digital asset transfer tax' is a made-up fee. No genuine entity, especially not a private company, would require you to pay a 'tax' directly to them to release your own recovered funds. These scammers are predatory; they specifically target people who have already been scammed, knowing they are desperate and vulnerable. They often get victim lists from the original scammers. Please, do not send them any money. You will lose that too. The best thing you can do now is block them and report their activities to your local consumer protection agencies. Stay vigilant.

