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Money and jobs

“We’ll get your money back” scams

After a scam, fake lawyers, hackers or police offer to recover your money, for a fee.1

Money riskVery high
Emotional harmVery high

Our rating, based on the sources on this page. How we rate

How it works

  1. They find you

    They contact you soon after the first scam, sometimes knowing exactly what you lost.

  2. The promise

    Official-looking letters, badges, court documents.

  3. The fee

    Pay a fee, a tax or a “guarantee” first. Then more.

What the evidence says

  • Australia’s Scamwatch reports that 1 in 3 scam victims are scammed more than once.1

Warning signs

  • Someone contacts you first, offering to recover your money.
  • A fee to pay before anything happens.

Protect yourself

  • Treat any unexpected offer to recover your money as a new scam.1
  • Real police do not charge you to investigate.
  • Only deal with services you contacted yourself.

Advice on this page follows official guidance from the sources below.

Sources

  1. Official sourceWhat to do if you’ve been scammedScamwatch, National Anti-Scam Centre, ACCC (Australia). Accessed September 24, 2026.
Get helpIs it a scam?