Someone offered to recover my scammed money for a fee — is it legit?
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Educational content; not legal advice.
Short answer
Almost certainly not — this is the 'recovery scam,' a second con aimed at people who were already scammed. No legitimate government body — the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, the NBI, the SEC, or the AMLC — and no real bank charges you an upfront fee to 'recover' or 'release' your money; official reporting and case handling are free. Scammers buy or re-use victim lists and pose as agents, 'lawyers,' cyber-police, or an 'asset-recovery' service, then ask for a processing fee, a 'tax,' or your OTP and bank details before the supposed refund. The tells are consistent: they contacted you first, they promise a guaranteed recovery, they demand payment or credentials in advance, and they invent urgency. Do not pay and do not share any code — paying only marks you as a repeat target. Charging you through this deceit is itself estafa under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code, raised one degree because it is done online (RA 10175). Report the recovery approach too, using only official free channels you reach yourself.
Primary sources
Frequently asked
Do the police, NBI, or SEC ever charge a fee to recover my money?
No. Reporting a scam and having your case processed by the PNP-ACG, NBI, SEC, or AMLC is free. Anyone demanding an upfront 'recovery,' 'release,' or 'processing' fee — especially someone who contacted you first — is running a recovery scam.
Why do recovery scammers target people who were already scammed?
Because victim contact details circulate among fraudsters, and someone desperate to recover a loss is more likely to pay again. Recovery scammers exploit that hope by posing as officials, lawyers, or 'asset-recovery' services and promising a guaranteed refund for a fee.
What should I do if I get a recovery offer?
Do not pay and do not share any OTP or bank detail. Screenshot the approach and report it — it is itself estafa (Art. 315) raised one degree for being online (RA 10175). Then pursue recovery only through official free channels you contact yourself: your bank/e-wallet fraud line and the PNP-ACG or NBI.
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What to do after an online scam — the first-hour playbook, where to report (PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, NBI, DOJ Office of Cybercrime), how to spot and report investment/Ponzi scams to the SEC, phishing and OTP theft, online-shopping fraud (undelivered, fake, or misrepresented goods), romance and job scams, and the legal basis under estafa (Revised Penal Code Art. 315), RA 8484, RA 10175, RA 8792, RA 7394, and RA 8799.