What to do if you have been scammed?
Scams can happen to anyone. In fact, 9 million people have been caught out by financial scams in the past year alone. These scams often involve fraudulent schemes designed to trick individuals into giving away their personal information and money. WRS are here to help you recover your lost funds.
What are cryptocurrency scams?
Cryptocurrency scams are fraudulent schemes that exploit the growing popularity of cryptocurrencies to deceive individuals and steal their money. These scams can take many forms, including Ponzi schemes and fake investment opportunities. Scammers may promise high returns, create fake websites or social media profiles, or impersonate trusted companies and individuals in the cryptocurrency space. Once victims are lured in, they may be tricked into sending funds.
Common cryptocurrency scams include:
- Ponzi schemes: Scammers promise high returns on cryptocurrency investments but pay initial investors with funds from new investors, rather than actual profits. This continues until the scammer disappears with the money.
- Phishing scams: In phishing, scammers create fake websites, emails, or messages to trick individuals into revealing private keys or login details. This then gives scammers access to their cryptocurrency assets.
- Romance scams: Romance scams target individuals through fake online relationships. Once the scammer establishes trust, they convince the victim to send funds which can be in the form of cryptocurrency as part of a “financial emergency” or “investment opportunity”.
- Imposter scams: Scammers pose as government officials, famous individuals, or tech support agents to gain trust and access to funds, often requesting cryptocurrency payments as part of their deception.
What are the first steps you should take after being scammed?
Realising you’ve been scammed is distressing and it’s natural to feel overwhelmed in the moment. However, it’s important to try and stay calm, as the next steps you take can be crucial to recovering your funds.
Save the information you hold
If you’ve been scammed, the first thing you should do is save any information related to the scam. This includes transaction IDs, wallet addresses, email or chat communications, screenshots, and any other relevant details you can gather.
These pieces of information will be essential in formulating your case. Next, immediately stop all further communication with the scammer, and do not provide any more personal information.
Keep detailed records for recovery
Having these records at the start can significantly streamline recovery efforts. Precise documentation provides a strong foundation.
Contact WRS to recover lost funds
We know how to get results for our clients. In fact, we’ve helped recover more than £50 million for fraud victims. You can also expect superior customer service at WRS. Our UK-based specialists are on hand to provide reassuring, expert advice when you need it. Plus, we offer a no-win, no-fee service. You won’t pay a thing unless we recover your money.