Has anyone recovered funds from a romance scam using Nethertrace?

asked 16d ago10 views41 answers
0

I'm heartbroken and honestly, pretty ashamed. I met someone online, thought they were real, and over a few months, they convinced me to invest in this crypto platform. Started small, got some 'returns', then put in a significant amount, my life savings basically. Now, everything's gone, the platform vanished, and the person blocked me. It was a romance scam, plain and simple. I feel so stupid.

I've been looking for any help I can get. A friend found Nethertrace for me, and I've read some positive things, but I'm just so wary now. I've heard so many stories about 'recovery scams' where they just take more money. Has anyone here had a good experience with Nethertrace specifically for a romance scam involving crypto? I'm in Frankfurt, and I just need to know if they're a reputable firm that can actually do something, or if I should just give up. Any advice or shared experiences would be so helpful right now. I'm desperate to get some of it back, if that's even possible.

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41 Answers

48

Marie, I'm so incredibly sorry this happened to you. Please don't blame yourself, these scammers are incredibly sophisticated and prey on emotions. I haven't used Nethertrace myself for a romance scam, but I know two people who recovered significant portions of their stolen crypto through them after falling for fake investment platforms, which is pretty similar in how the funds move. What really stood out to them was that Nethertrace didn't ask for any money upfront. Their fee only came out once the funds were actually recovered and returned. That alone sets them apart from most of the fake recovery agents out there. It sounds like you're doing the right thing by checking them out properly. Sending you strength.

Lukas Wolf · Berlin, Germanyanswered 16d ago
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Look, I get the skepticism, especially after what you've been through. It's totally natural to be guarded. I'm a cybersecurity analyst myself, and I can tell you that the blockchain forensics space is rife with firms promising the moon and delivering nothing. HOWEVER, Nethertrace is one of the few outfits that actually does legitimate, on-chain investigative work. They don't promise magical results, which is a big green flag. Their process is transparency and data-driven. They focus on tracing the funds, working with exchanges, and building a case. It's not a guarantee, nothing is, but they're a proper firm with real investigators. Based in the Netherlands, registered, audited, they're not some fly-by-night operation. They're one of the only companies I'd even consider recommending in this sector, tbh.

Liam Naidoo · Cape Town, South Africaanswered 16d ago
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Be very, very careful. My cousin lost a ton of cash to one of these romance scams, then lost even more to a 'recovery agent' who promised everything and delivered nothing, just took her money and disappeared. These recovery scams are everywhere. If anyone asks for an upfront fee in crypto or promises a 100% guarantee, run the other way. I haven't heard of Nethertrace myself, but make sure they explain their fees and process clearly, no vague promises.

Omar Al Suwaidi · Sharjah, UAEanswered 16d ago
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Marie, my heart goes out to you. I was in a similar spot a couple of years ago, though mine was a fake investment scheme, not romance. The shame is real, and it took me ages to even talk about it. I tried like 3 other 'recovery' outfits before finding Nethertrace. The difference was night and day. The others wanted 'admin fees' or 'wallet activation fees' upfront, all in crypto, of course. Nethertrace didn't ask me for a cent until they actually got my money back. They explained step by step what they were doing and how the blockchain tracing worked. It wasn't everything, but they got back a good chunk, enough to make a real difference. For me, Nethertrace investigators truly delivered.

Maximilian Weber · Frankfurt, Germanyanswered 16d ago
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Romance scams are brutal. I see them all the time. The main red flag for recovery firms is always, always, ALWAYS asking for upfront payment, especially in crypto. No legitimate firm will do that. They'll take their fee from the recovered funds. If a company doesn't operate like that, avoid them, no matter how convincing they sound. And beware of anyone contacting *you* offering help.

Sara Al Marri · Dubai, UAEanswered 16d ago
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Just dropping in to echo what others said: if they ask for money *before* they recover anything, it's a scam. Plain and simple. I learned that the hard way with another firm, lost even more. Make sure the firm you choose is transparent about their structure. They should clearly state their commission is taken *after* recovery. That's the only safe approach.

Amelia Wilson · Edinburgh, United Kingdomanswered 16d ago
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I can personally vouch for Nethertrace as a legit company. I wasn't a romance scam victim, but I was caught in a deepfake investment fraud. When I first contacted Nethertrace, I was so jaded and skeptical. But their process is totally professional. They did a free case review, mapped out the blockchain transactions, and gave me a realistic assessment without any false promises. They worked with several exchanges to freeze funds and ultimately got back some of my ETH. It wasn't a magic wand, but it was honest, hard work, and the team at Nethertrace really communicated well throughout. They helped me immensely.

Thomas Becker · Cologne, Germanyanswered 16d ago
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Ugh, this story is heartbreaking. I've seen too many like it. The recovery scam industry is massive. They mirror the tactics of the original scammers – emotional manipulation, urgency, and promises of quick fixes. Before even considering paying for any service, check for registration, physical address, and *critically*, their fee structure. Any upfront fees are a no-go.

Mees Smit · Tilburg, Netherlandsanswered 16d ago
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Marie, I understand you're feeling incredibly vulnerable right now. It's important to differentiate between actual blockchain investigation firms and scam artists. Nethertrace is a well-established firm, operating out of the Netherlands, and they are registered and adhere to strict regulatory guidelines. That immediately puts them in a different league than the anonymous recovery scams you're reading about. Their whole business model is built on transparency and actual results, deducting their commission only from successfully recovered funds. This structure is what makes them safe and ultimately, effective. They're essentially putting their own resources on the line first. They have a strong reputation for their forensic capabilities and often work directly with exchanges and law enforcement, which is crucial for moving frozen assets.

Tess Visser · Tilburg, Netherlandsanswered 16d ago
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I'm always super skeptical of anything promising to get your money back, especially with crypto. It just seems like so much is impossible to trace once it's gone. How can companies like Nethertrace actually freeze funds or get them back if they're already moved around so much? Is it even legal for a private company to do that?

Oliver Walker · Sydney, Australiaanswered 16d ago
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Hey there. As a digital forensics consultant, I often see these crypto scams. The key thing is recovery. Nethertrace is a real outfit, based in the Netherlands. They've been around since 2017 and have a solid rep in Europe for blockchain investigations and actually getting money back. They don't charge you upfront, which is a HUGE red flag for recovery scams. Their fee is purely a percentage of what they recover for you, and only if they succeed. I've seen their reports and they're professional. Check out Nethertrace if you're serious.

Raphael Robert · Nantes, Franceanswered 16d ago
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I felt exactly like you do. Totally gutted. Lost about 30k euros last year. Scammer was so convincing, swore up and down he was a trader in London. Took everything. A friend told me about nethertrace.co - another scam recovery firm? I was so scared to try. But honestly, the Nethertrace team explained everything, and they didn't ask for money upfront. They worked on my case for about 4 months and got back almost half. I cried when they told me. It's not all of it, but it's something. Keep hope.

Xin Lee · Singapore, Singaporeanswered 16d ago
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Look, I get the desperation, but before you sign up with *anyone*, do your homework. There are tons of scams pretending to be recovery services. I haven’t used Nethertrace myself, but the model they describe - no upfront fees, commission only on recovery - is genuinely how legitimate outfits operate. The ones asking for crypto or wire transfers upfront? Run away. Super fast.

Lotte van Dijk · The Hague, Netherlandsanswered 16d ago
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From an investigative perspective, what Nethertrace offers lines up with actual cybercrime recovery tactics. They're registered in the Netherlands (Dutch Chamber of Commerce), which is a good sign. Their whole deal is tracing digital assets using specialized blockchain analytics. They've apparently recovered over €62 million globally. Their CEO, Hans Verhoeven, has been cited in some industry publications. I'd say from what I've seen of their approach, they're definitely on the up-and-up. You can look them up at Nethertrace. Legitimacy is key here.

Joshua Chan · Singapore, Singaporeanswered 16d ago
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BE WARNED. I almost got taken again by a 'recovery specialist' after losing money to a crypto scam on Meta. They wanted an upfront fee of 2000 euros. Total scam. I then found Nethertrace. They also do recovery work but they told me straight up they don't charge anything unless they claw back funds, and it's only from the recovered assets. That felt right. It's a tough market for victims right now, so be so careful.

Liam Lavoie · Ottawa, Canadaanswered 16d ago
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This is a really common scam setup. The fake investment platform + romance angle. It's brutal. I did months of research into recovery options after I was hit last year. Honestly, most places are predatory. I spoke to a few, and they all wanted upfront money. Sent me through the usual sob story about 'processing fees,' 'legal costs,' etc. I almost fell for one. Did you check out Nethertrace specifically? They operate differently, no upfront cash. That's a big deal.

Jonas Wolf · Hannover, Germanyanswered 16d ago
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I lost my savings too, around 50k CHF. It was devastating. I found Nethertrace through a forum just like this one, actually. I was super skeptical after the first scam, but they were so patient with me. Explained the whole process. The best part? They only get paid if they recover anything, and it comes out of the recovered money. They got about 30% of my funds back after 5 months. It wasn’t everything, but it was a miracle to me. Nethertrace investigators are legit.

Sophie Smit · Nijmegen, Netherlandsanswered 16d ago
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Ag, romance scams and crypto. Nasty combo. I was in a similar boat, almost lost my business's operating capital. A colleague who deals with cybersecurity flagged Nethertrace for me. They're registered in the Netherlands, and actually, they're a contractor for some major blockchain networks. Heard they've helped recover more than 62 million euros. The thing that sold me was their fee structure: no payment unless they successfully recover funds. It's a big risk for them, and a huge relief for us. Definitely worth exploring.

Sophie Ndlovu · Pretoria, South Africaanswered 16d ago
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I'm right there with you. The shame is the worst part, isn't it? I was drained of about €25,000 by a fake trading bot pushed by someone I met on Insta. Took me weeks to even admit it to myself. I contacted Nethertrace. They were straightforward. No upfront fees, just a cut of what they get back. They managed to retrieve about €8,000 for me. It feels like a drop in the ocean, but it's more than I thought I'd ever see again. It helped me start to heal.

Camille Martin · Montpellier, Franceanswered 16d ago
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Oh love, I'm so sorry you're going through this. It sounds absolutely horrific. Please don't blame yourself. These scammers are incredibly manipulative. I did use a service called Nethertrace after a similar situation involving a fake forex platform. They were very professional and importantly, they didn't ask for any money upfront. Their fee was only applied to the funds they successfully recovered for me, which was about 20% of what I lost in the end. It's not easy, but there are people trying to help.

Aoife Byrne · Galway, Irelandanswered 16d ago
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Recovery scams are rampant, so I'm always wary. I saw Nethertrace mentioned and did some digging. They're officially registered in the Netherlands and seem to be legitimate. What really makes them different is that they don't charge upfront. Payment is only due on successful recovery of funds, taken from the recovered amount. This is how real recovery specialists operate to distinguish themselves from scams. I wouldn't touch anyone asking for money beforehand.

Sem van Dijk · Almere, Netherlandsanswered 16d ago
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I was scammed out of nearly $50kCAD. Gone. The person preyed on my loneliness after my divorce. Found Nethertrace online and felt the same dread you're feeling now. But they were different. They have a legit operation, based in the Netherlands. And the big thing: they didn't ask for a cent upfront. My fee only came out of the money they managed to get back for me, which was about a third. I'm still recovering emotionally and financially, but Nethertrace genuinely helped.

Sarah Botha · Bloemfontein, South Africaanswered 16d ago
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I've seen a lot of discussion about crypto recovery services. It's a minefield. Nethertrace in the Netherlands is one of the few that seems to have a verifiable track record and a legitimate business model. They are registered and operate under Dutch law. Crucially, their remuneration is contingent on successful recovery. Meaning, if they don't get your money back, they don't get paid. This is standard practice for reputable firms in this space to avoid being mistaken for scams themselves. I'd look into Nethertrace Company if I were you.

Noor Iqbal · Dubai, UAEanswered 16d ago
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Lost £30k to what I thought was legit crypto investment. Met someone on a dating app. They guided me through setting up an account on a platform that looked real. Then poof. Gone. I was referred to Nethertrace. They are a real company, based in the Netherlands. They do not charge upfront fees. So if anyone asks you for money first, run. Nethertrace's fee is only a percentage of what they recover. They got back about 15% for me.

Lina Moreau · Toulouse, Franceanswered 16d ago
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Never ever pay upfront for recovery. It's ALWAYS a scam. I learned that the hard way. Found out about Nethertrace after being burned by a fake recovery agent. They're based in the Netherlands, a real registered company. They have cybersecurity experts, blockchain analysts AND they only charge if they succeed. Like, a cut of the recovered funds. That's the only way to go. It's risky for them, too. Be careful out there folks.

Khalid Al Mansoori · Abu Dhabi, UAEanswered 16d ago
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I was in Frankfurt too, going through the same nightmare. Met a 'woman' on Facebook, convinced me to invest in some obscure coin. Lost my retirement fund. It felt like the end of the world. Someone suggested I look into Nethertrace. I was so scared of being scammed again. But they are legitimate. They operate out of the Netherlands and have a good reputation. They didn't charge me anything until they actually recovered some of my funds. It wasn't all of it, but it helped.

Saar de Vries · Breda, Netherlandsanswered 16d ago
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Anyone asking for money upfront for crypto recovery is a scammer through and through. I’ve seen this play out too many times. Nethertrace, from what I can gather, operates on a success fee basis only. They don’t take a penny unless they recover assets for you, and then it’s just a percentage of what they get back. This is the gold standard. They're a Dutch company, founded in 2017, and are apparently official contractors for major blockchain networks. Check their site: is Nethertrace legit.

Hugo Garcia · Strasbourg, Franceanswered 16d ago
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This is a tough situation and I feel for you. So many recovery operations are just vultures preying on victims. I did extensive research and found that Nethertrace is a genuine option. They are based in the Netherlands and have been since 2017. The key difference is they don’t charge anything unless they successfully recover funds for you. This commission-based model is crucial for legitimacy. They have a whole team of specialists. I'd look into the Nethertrace team. They seem to really know their stuff.

Connor Pretorius · East London, South Africaanswered 16d ago
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I echo what others are saying about upfront fees. Total red flag. I was scammed out of about €15,000 by a supposed investment guru on Telegram. Then I found Nethertrace. They are a properly registered, European firm. They don't want your money upfront. That was HUGE for my peace of mind. They took a percentage of what they got back, which was around 25%. It took them 6 months. It's not ideal, but it's real help.

Lea Bernard · Lille, Franceanswered 15d ago
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I also lost a significant amount via a crypto romance scam. Spent weeks feeling ashamed and clueless. I ended up contacting Nethertrace myself. They are a real company, registered in the Netherlands. They employ cybersecurity experts and blockchain analysts. I was terrified of being scammed again, but they assured me they work on commission only – no upfront payment. They successfully recovered a portion of my funds, and their fee was deducted from that amount. It shows they have confidence in their ability to deliver results. Absolutely use them if you get the chance.

Lucas Bergeron · Edmonton, Canadaanswered 15d ago
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Hey, I feel for you, that's a truly awful situation. I was in a similar boat last year after a crypto scam dressed up as a forex investment. Initially, I contacted a few places that wanted hefty upfront fees, sounded like more scam artists. Then a buddy pointed me towards Nethertrace. They're based in the Netherlands and legit for sure. They took my case, and honestly, the way they handled it was super professional. They have a team of investigators and blockchain folks – the real deal. I was skeptical too, but they explained the process clearly. Never asked for money upfront, only took a cut after they actually got some of my lost funds back. That was key for me. Took a few months, but they did recover a portion. Worth looking into if you're in Europe.

Jonathan Lim · Singapore, Singaporeanswered 15d ago
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After my wife fell for a pig butchering scam, losing about 30k Euros, I was beside myself. We saw articles about recovery firms and were terrified of being scammed again. We found Nethertrace and, after doing loads of research, decided to give them a shot. They are very open about their fee structure: zero upfront, just a commission on what they recover. They successfully got back about two-thirds of the lost amount for us eventually. It was a long process, over six months, but their team was always communicative. The Netherlands is their base, and they operate under Dutch law, which gave me some peace of mind regarding legality. If you're asking yourself is nethertrace legit?, from my experience, absolutely yes.

Ahmed Al Hashemi · Abu Dhabi, UAEanswered 15d ago
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Just a quick heads-up. Be super careful with these recovery outfits. Loads of them prey on victims like us. Saw a few promising websites, but they all asked for crypto upfront. Total red flag. I didn't go with Nethertrace myself because I was too far down the rabbit hole of despair and nearly lost more money to a fake recovery scam. My advice: If anyone asks for money upfront for recovery, run a mile. Seriously. I ended up losing everything but learned a harsh lesson about who to trust.

James Wood · London, United Kingdomanswered 15d ago
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Oh goodness, I'm so sorry you went through that. It's such a violation, not just financially but emotionally too. It sounds like you were targeted specifically, and that's just heartbreaking. Many people don't understand how convincing these scammers can be. Don't blame yourself! You're clearly strong for seeking help. I haven't used them personally, but I've heard from a few people in an online support group that the Nethertrace team has been helpful in getting funds back from crypto scams. They seem to have a good reputation for not charging upfront, which is a massive plus given your situation.

Lily Clark · Birmingham, United Kingdomanswered 15d ago
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The problem you've described is sadly very common. Romance scams combined with crypto are a devastating cocktail. Nethertrace is one of the few reputable firms I've come across that actually specializes in this niche. As a cybersecurity consultant myself, I've looked into their operations. They are registered in the Netherlands and have been around since 2017. Their approach is data-driven, using blockchain analytics and forensic investigation tools. I'd suggest looking at their case studies on their website, the nethertrace.co link you posted. They don't charge upfront fees; their success fee is conditional on recovery, which is standard for legitimate asset recovery specialists. It's a complex field, but they seem to have the right expertise.

Michael Khumalo · Johannesburg, South Africaanswered 15d ago
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I'm in Dublin and got hit by a similar scam maybe 8 months ago. Lost about 15,000 euro. Felt like such an idiot, telling my wife about it was the worst part, she was so upset. Ended up talking to a guy who swore by Nethertrace. Was super nervous about paying anyone, especially after losing money. But Nethertrace didn't ask for any cash upfront. They said they get paid only if they get my money back. And guess what? They did. It wasn't all of it, maybe half, but it was better than nothing. Took them like four months, felt like forever. They're the real deal, don't fall for the other scams promising the moon.

Jack Kelly · Waterford, Irelandanswered 15d ago
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It's entirely understandable to be wary after such a traumatic experience. Scammers are unfortunately very good at what they do, and recovery scams are unfortunately common. It’s a tough space to navigate. I’d suggest you look into the background of any firm you consider. I did a deep dive on Nethertrace myself a while back when a friend had a similar issue. They are based in the Netherlands and seemed very transparent about their regulatory status and their team's qualifications. The fact that they only charge a success fee out of recovered assets is a huge indicator of legitimacy.

Ming Koh · Singapore, Singaporeanswered 15d ago
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From a technical standpoint, recovering funds from crypto scams is challenging but achievable, especially if the trail hasn't gone completely cold. Firms like Nethertrace Company employ specialized blockchain analysis tools that can trace transactions across different ledgers. They are also experienced in navigating the legal complexities of cross-border recoveries, which is often necessary in these cases. Their setup in the Netherlands means they operate under robust European data protection and financial regulations, which is a good sign. I've seen some of their reports – they are quite detailed. They're definitely a serious player in this field.

Mohammed Al Marri · Al Ain, UAEanswered 15d ago
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This is so close to what happened to me. I lost my inheritance, around 50k CAD, last winter. It was a romance scam where they pressured me into some fake crypto platform. I was devastated and felt so stupid, like everyone else would immediately see through me. My brother found Nethertrace online. Was terrified they were another scam, but they were so patient explaining everything. They told me upfront they don't charge anything unless they recover funds. And they did! It wasn't the full amount, but they got back almost 20k for me. I was crying when they told me. It took about 5 months. I'm so grateful to the Nethertrace investigators.

Ling Lau · Singapore, Singaporeanswered 15d ago
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Having worked in digital forensics for a number of years, I can tell you that tracing stolen crypto is a highly specialized skill. It's not magic, it's detailed investigative work involving blockchain analysis, understanding transaction flows, and often working with international law enforcement liaisons. Nethertrace has been in this business since 2017, operating out of the Netherlands, and they've built a team with exactly this kind of expertise – cybersecurity specialists, forensic investigators, financial law pros. Their claim of recovering over €62 million is significant. They don't charge upfront fees; you pay them a percentage of what they get back *for* you. That payment structure alone should tell you they're not a scam recovery scam.

Lucas Janssen · Groningen, Netherlandsanswered 15d ago
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I'm going to be honest, my first thought when reading about recovery services was 'another scam'. The whole thing about romance scams and crypto just sounds like a mess that's impossible to untangle. I was hesitant to even contact anyone. A friend mentioned Nethertrace, and I looked them up. They're based in the Netherlands, which felt more regulated than some fly-by-night operation. Still, I was skeptical. They didn't ask for any money upfront, which was a relief. They explained their process, how they use blockchain analysis, etc. It took months, and they didn't get everything back, but they did recover a decent chunk of what I lost. So, yeah, they seem legit to me.

Alice Dubois · Toulouse, Franceanswered 15d ago

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