Advanced Fee Fraud
Advance-fee fraud always works the same way: a small upfront payment unlocks something much bigger — a loan, prize, inheritance, or refund. The bigger thing never arrives, and follow-up fees keep being demanded.
£86m+
Lost to advance-fee fraud in the UK in 2023
#1
Most common scam type targeting recovery-fraud victims
4.8 ★
Trustpilot rating
Secure
Encrypted case vault
Overview
Advance-fee fraud always works the same way: a small upfront payment unlocks something much bigger — a loan, prize, inheritance, or refund. The bigger thing never arrives, and follow-up fees keep being demanded.
Warning Signs to Watch For
- • An offer of a loan with a required upfront "insurance" or "processing" fee
- • A prize, inheritance, or refund requiring upfront tax or release fees
- • A "recovery" firm contacting you after a previous scam, asking for a fee
- • Demands paid via untraceable methods (gift cards, crypto, money-transfer agents)
- • Each fee is followed by another that must be paid before release
Recovery-Scam Warning
If you have been a victim of any earlier scam, you are now a target for "recovery" fraudsters who pose as solicitors, regulators, or government officials offering to recover your money for an upfront fee. Legitimate recovery firms do not cold-call you. Always verify any "recovery" offer by approaching the firm yourself.
How We Pursue Recovery
Even when the fraudster is overseas, the UK side of the payment trail — your bank, the money-service business, or the crypto exchange — has duties to its customer. We hold them to those duties through formal complaints and FOS escalation.
Our Approach
Investigate
We identify the operating entity and any payment processors involved.
Trace
We follow the fees through banks, money-transfer agents, and crypto channels.
Pursue
We file PSR, FOS, and money-service-business complaints to compel reimbursement.
Recover
We secure refunds from regulated intermediaries and pursue identifiable recipients.