Beware Recovery Scams: How to Get Real Help After Being Scammed

If you’ve already lost money to a scam, you could be targeted again. Here’s how to protect yourself and get real legal help.

Being scammed can leave you feeling angry, vulnerable and unsure of whom to trust. For many people, the worst part is knowing the money is gone and feeling helpless to get it back.

Sadly, that’s exactly what fraudsters rely on.

Recovery scams are one of the most heartless forms of fraud. They target people who have already lost money, using that loss to manipulate them into parting with even more. If someone has contacted you out of the blue, claiming they can get your money back and asking for an upfront fee, it could be a fake refund company.

In this article, we’ll explain what recovery scams are, how they work, and how to spot the warning signs. We’ll also explain how CEL Solicitors is different, and why thousands of people trust us to help them recover what’s rightfully theirs.

What is a Recovery Scam?

A recovery scam is a second scam that targets people who have already been defrauded. The scammers pretend to be from a legitimate law firm, refund company or even the police. They say they can help recover your lost money, but they ask for a payment up front, often claiming it’s needed to unlock funds, pay legal fees or start an investigation.

They often sound convincing because they already have personal details about your original scam, such as:

The name of the company or platform you sent money to
The amount of money you lost
Your name, phone number or email address

Sometimes, it’s the original scammers coming back for more; other times, your details may have been shared or sold to new fraudsters.

Whatever the case, the goal is the same: to take more money from you when you’re at your most vulnerable.

How Do Recovery Scams Work?

Recovery scams often follow a familiar pattern. Here’s how they typically unfold:

1. Initial contact
You’re contacted by someone claiming to represent a recovery company or the police. They may reach out by phone, email, text message or social media.

2. Building trust
The scammer already knows details about your previous experience. They might mention the name of the scam company, the amount you lost, or how you paid. This is designed to earn your trust quickly.

3. The promise of help
You’re told that your case has been reviewed and that your money can be recovered. They may claim to work closely with banks, regulators or international investigators.

4. An upfront fee
Before anything can begin, they say you need to pay a fee. This might be described as a legal charge, a tax, an investigation fee or a refundable deposit. You may even be told the money is guaranteed to come back to you.

5. Silence or more pressure
Once the fee is paid, the scammer may disappear entirely. In other cases, they continue asking for more money, inventing new reasons why the recovery hasn’t yet gone through.

It’s a cruel cycle that plays on people’s hopes — and it can leave victims feeling even worse than before.

How to Spot a Fake Refund Company

Spotting a recovery scam isn’t always easy, especially when you’re desperate for answers. But there are a few clear red flags to watch out for:

They ask for money upfront
A legitimate fraud recovery solicitor will never ask you to pay anything before starting your case. CEL Solicitors operates on a no-win, no-fee basis.
They contact you out of the blue
Be wary of unexpected phone calls, texts or emails from people claiming to be from refund or legal companies. If you didn’t contact them first, be cautious.
They use pressure tactics
Scammers often create a sense of urgency. They might say the offer is time-limited or that you’ll lose your chance to recover the money if you don’t act fast.
They avoid providing credentials
Real firms are registered, regulated and easy to verify. If someone is vague about who they are or refuses to give you their company details, it’s a warning sign.
Their email address or website looks suspicious
Look out for email addresses with odd spellings, generic domains (like Gmail or Outlook), or websites that have spelling errors and no clear contact information.

If you’re ever unsure, it’s okay to stop and check. A genuine company won’t rush you or make you feel guilty for asking questions.

Are You Being Targeted Again?

If you’ve already lost money to a scam, you may be more likely to receive future fraudulent contact. This is because scammers often share or sell victim information in what they refer to as a “sucker list” — a database of people who have previously fallen for a scam and are seen as more likely to respond again.

You may be targeted days, months or even years after the original fraud. These scammers often:

Use your real name and contact details
Refer to the specific amount of money you lost
Claim they’re working with your bank or the Financial Ombudsman
Say they’ve been assigned to help you recover your funds

They might even impersonate real organisations or law firms — including CEL Solicitors. We’ve already warned the public about scammers using fake websites, spoofed emails and misleading adverts to pose as us.

We never contact people out of the blue. All of our clients have come to us first.

If someone says they’re from CEL Solicitors and you’re not sure, please contact us directly. We’ll be happy to confirm whether the contact is genuine.

If anybody gets in touch claiming to know you’ve been scammed — especially if they mention your bank, the amount you lost or other personal details — it’s a scammer using information they’ve already gathered during the original fraud.

How CEL Solicitors Is Different

CEL Solicitors is a legitimate UK law firm that helps people recover money lost to fraud — and we never ask for upfront payment. We work on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means:

You don’t pay anything unless we win your case
Our fee comes from the other side, not from you
You stay in control of your claim at all times

We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA No: 633955) and have successfully recovered over £120 million for clients across the UK. As a law firm, we have powers and protections that most recovery companies simply do not.

Thousands of people have trusted us to help them get their money back, and we’re proud to have earned over 10,000 five-star reviews across platforms like Trustpilot.

So if you’re looking for real legal help after a scam, you don’t have to do it alone. Just tell CEL.

A Proven Track Record of Getting Results

At CEL Solicitors, we’ve helped thousands of people across the UK recover money lost to scams. We’ve taken on banks, businesses and fraudulent platforms, and we’re proud to say we’ve recovered over £120 million for our clients so far.

We know how devastating it can feel when your trust has been abused. But with the right legal support, recovery is possible.

“They know what they’re doing, they know what they’re looking for.

“I’ve always thought in life, if you want to get something done you go to the experts – and CEL are the experts. That’s what they do. They deal with the Financial Ombudsman on a daily basis.

“When you get scammed you feel angry, a victim, like you’ve let your family down. You’re just in a really bad place.”

— Mr Hoadley, CEL Client

How to Protect Yourself Going Forward

If you’ve already been scammed, it’s important to stay cautious. Here are some key tips to help protect yourself from recovery scams:

Don’t trust anyone who contacts you out of the blue
If you didn’t reach out to them, treat the approach with caution.
Never pay upfront fees
Legitimate firms like CEL Solicitors don’t charge you a penny until your case is won.
Check credentials carefully
Verify that any company you speak to is regulated and registered. CEL Solicitors is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA No: 633955).
Look for real reviews and results
We have over 10,000 five-star reviews and a track record of real financial recovery.
Trust your instincts
If something doesn’t feel right, take a step back and double-check. A legitimate firm will always give you time to think.

You Are Not Alone. Just Tell CEL.

If you’ve been scammed and are now being targeted again, don’t face it on your own. CEL Solicitors is a trusted UK law firm that deals with fraud recovery every day.

We’ll never ask for money up front. We’ll never pressure you to make a decision. And we’ll always treat your case with care, discretion and the determination it deserves.

Speak to our team today to find out if we can help you recover what you’ve lost. Call 0330 822 3752 or complete an online form, and a member of our team will be in touch. It’s free to find out if you have a case, and we only get paid if we win it.