The second scam: “We will get your money back”
People who have already been scammed often get a second call: a lawyer or agency promises to get the money back.
1How they do it
- Scammers sell lists of victims to each other.
- A “lawyer”, “European service” or “cybercrime bureau” contacts you.
- They know exactly how much you lost. That makes it believable.
- To release your money you first have to pay fees. Then they disappear.
2A real example
“Good day, this is the European Fraud Recovery Bureau. We have found your 12,000 €. There are still 980 € in file fees to pay.”
3How to spot it
- They contact you, not the other way round.
- You have to pay in advance.
- Official-sounding names that do not exist.
4How to protect yourself
- Real police or lawyers never ask for money in advance to give your money back.
- Only work through your bank, the police and the official banking ombudsman in your country.
- Hang up and report the number.
In Belgium
- The banking ombudsman is Ombudsfin (ombudsfin.be).
How WolfKey helps
“Recovery” scammers also often ask for access to your bank “to pay out the money”. With WolfKey only you decide, with your finger.
Get WolfKeySuspicious number, email or website? Check it or report it.
Examples have been made unrecognisable. Names and numbers in the examples are made up.