Pause before you pay
A second scam should not follow the first.
An unsolicited offer to recover an account can be another attempt to take your money or access. Check the route, the identity and the promises.
Reasons to stop and check.
- A promise of certain recovery or special access to platform staff.
- A request for your password, authentication code or remote control of your device.
- Pressure to pay through cryptocurrency, gift cards or a personal account.
- A stranger who approaches you after you post about a hacked account.
- Refusal to explain the legal entity, written scope or refund terms.
What legitimate assistance should explain.
The free official route, how authorization is checked, the work being charged for and what depends on the platform’s decision. A fee must not be presented as buying a guaranteed outcome.
If money has been taken.
Contact your bank or payment provider promptly through a verified channel. Be wary of a new offer to recover lost funds for an upfront fee. We do not offer recovery of money or cryptocurrency.
- United States: FTC refund and recovery scam guidance ↗
- United Kingdom: Report Fraud recovery-fraud guidance ↗. Follow the reporting route applicable to your location.
Editorial review: 14 October 2026. TODO(legal-review): confirm reporting resources for every supported market, including the UAE, before publication.
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