TLDR
Within days/weeks of a crypto loss, victim is contacted by 'IC3' (impersonated) or a 'law firm' (e.g. 'Wilson & Hart Recovery') claiming to recover lost crypto for a retainer or 'court bond' in USDT. FBI explicitly says IC3 never contacts...
How it works
Within days/weeks of a crypto loss, victim is contacted by 'IC3' (impersonated) or a 'law firm' (e.g. 'Wilson & Hart Recovery') claiming to recover lost crypto for a retainer or 'court bond' in USDT. FBI explicitly says IC3 never contacts...
Red flags
- Urgent pressure to click, pay, or share codes immediately.
- A link or sender that does not match the official organization.
- Requests for card data, passwords, OTPs, wallet signatures, or bank transfers.
What to do
- 1FBI explicitly says IC3 never contacts victims for fees, and no legitimate firm requires payment in cryptocurrency.
- 2WHAT TO DO: verify any attorney on state bar website, verify firm address on Google Maps Street View, confirm IRS EIN.
Source
FAQ
Is Fake law firm / crypto recovery — secondary victimization a real scam pattern?
Yes. Treat the message, call, or payment request as suspicious until you verify it through an official channel.
What are the first warning signs?
Urgent pressure to click, pay, or share codes immediately.; A link or sender that does not match the official organization.; Requests for card data, passwords, OTPs, wallet signatures, or bank transfers.
What should I do first?
FBI explicitly says IC3 never contacts victims for fees, and no legitimate firm requires payment in cryptocurrency.; WHAT TO DO: verify any attorney on state bar website, verify firm address on Google Maps Street View, confirm IRS EIN.
Can LegalAudit check my case?
Yes. Start a free chat and paste the message, link, sender, or payment details for triage.