The Federal Bureau of Investigation has sounded the alarm over a fast-spreading fraud tactic in which con artists pose as attorneys to prey on people who have already lost money in cryptocurrency scams.
According to the agency, these impostors cold-call or message victims, promising to recover stolen digital assets through supposed legal action. In many cases, they bolster their claims with forged documents bearing the names and logos of legitimate law firms and references to fictitious bodies such as the “International Financial Trading Commission.”
The scheme typically begins with a demand for upfront payments, often in cryptocurrency or prepaid gift cards. Victims are then funneled into WhatsApp groups with alleged “bank officials” or “processors,” all of whom are part of the fraud network. By the time targets realize they have been duped again, their funds are unrecoverable.
Investigators say the deception is especially dangerous because scammers conduct extensive background research. They often know the exact amounts previously stolen, the dates of fraudulent transactions, and even the names of the original scam operators.
The ruse often escalates when victims are instructed to create accounts at what appear to be overseas banks. These professional-looking websites are in fact elaborate fronts built to extract more money.
The Bureau warns that no private law firm has an official partnership with a government agency — any such claim should be treated as a warning sign. Other red flags include an unwillingness to appear on video calls or provide verifiable licensing information.
Authorities recommend a “zero trust” approach to unsolicited recovery offers, treating them as suspect until credentials are verified. Victims are also urged to keep thorough records of all interactions, including emails and recorded calls, to aid future investigations.
The FBI says anyone contacted by such individuals should cease communication immediately and report the encounter through its official channels. In May, the FBI issued a report that hackers are now leveraging deepfake technology to impersonate senior U.S. government officials in a series of phishing campaigns aimed at stealing sensitive data.
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