Guides › Banking Scams and Fraud › Recovery Scams: Offers to Get Back Money You Lost
Recovery Scams: Offers to Get Back Money You Lost
Recovery room scams target people who have already lost money. Fraudsters contact you out of the blue, sometimes claiming to be the FCA, police or a law firm, and offer to get your money back for an upfront fee. Do not pay or give bank details. End contact and report it.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Warning Signs
How They Work
Fraudsters approach people who have been scammed or had failed investments and offer to recover their money for an upfront fee, which may be called tax, solicitor or administrative fees. They may claim to be, or work with, the FCA, the government, the police or another regulator. They may contact you out of the blue and pressure you to pay quickly. source
Fake Emails
The FCA says it never uses webmail addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail to contact consumers. source
What to Do
Protect Yourself
Do not pay any money or give banking details, and end all contact. Check the firm on the FCA Firm Checker and only use the contact details listed there, as scammers clone real firms. Report it to the FCA, and if you lost money, to Report Fraud. FCA consumer helpline: 0800 111 6768. source
Complaining to the Ombudsman
If your bank refuses or you are unhappy with how it handled a scam, you can complain to the bank and then to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which is free. Its compensation limit is 430,000 pounds, and it can look at cases where losses are over 85,000 pounds. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 13 monthsReport an APP scam or unauthorised paymentWithin 13 months of the payment, but as soon as possible
- 5 business daysBank transfer scam reimbursementWithin 5 business days of your claim, up to 35 business days if the bank needs more information
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Do not pay anything or give bank details.
Step 2 of 5
End the call or stop replying.
Step 3 of 5
Check any firm on the FCA Firm Checker, using only the contact details listed there.
Step 4 of 5
Report it to the FCA (0800 111 6768) and, if you lost money, to Report Fraud.
Step 5 of 5
If you paid by bank transfer, ask your bank about reimbursement under the scam scheme.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Your Bank's Complaints Team
Always start here, in writing, once your bank has refused or not replied.
Report Fraud (Police)
Report any scam. Your bank may also ask you to report it.
Financial Ombudsman Service
You are unhappy with your bank's final response. It is free, and its limit is 430,000 pounds.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Getting your money back from your own bank, or through the Financial Ombudsman Service, is free.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- fca.org.uk/consumers/recovery-room-scams Checked 13 October 2026
- psr.org.uk/information-for-consumers/app-fraud-reimbursement-protections Checked 13 October 2026
- reportfraud.police.uk Checked 12 October 2026