We specialize in recovering funds from a wide range of scams, including investment scams,
digital asset scams, trading scams, tax scams, withdrawal scams, and digital wallet
scams.
We start with an initial consultation to assess your situation. From there, we verify your
information, collect the required documentation, conduct a thorough investigation of the
scam, and proceed with the fund recovery process.
If you've lost money to a scam and have supporting documentation or evidence, your case is
likely eligible.
Reach out to us for a free consultation to review your specific situation.
Like other financial scams, cryptocurrency scams can leave victims feeling deceived and
embarrassed. Banks have a responsibility to exercise due diligence when safeguarding your
money, with procedures in place to protect vulnerable customers, flag unusual or high-value
transactions, and, when necessary, block or delay them. Your first step should be to ask
your bank to investigate the fraudulent transactions.
If the bank refuses to refund the lost funds, you can file a complaint with the Financial
Ombudsman Service (FOS). FOS, a government-backed body, helps resolve disputes between banks
and their customers. Upon receiving a complaint, they will conduct an independent review to
determine what would have been a 'fair and reasonable' response from the bank.
Recent FOS rulings have favored customers who were victims of push payment scams, including
cryptocurrency scams.
Since the claim is made against the bank, this can bypass the anonymity and complexities of
blockchain transactions.
Many push payment scammers come across as professional and genuinely interested in helping
you achieve good returns on your investment. They use sophisticated online marketing
tactics, including social media and email, to attract potential cryptocurrency investors
with promises of quick and substantial profits.
Once contact is made, scammers initially gain your trust by asking for a small transfer to
invest in cryptocurrency. You may even gain access to an online trading account, where you
can see your funds growing as promised.
However, this is often followed by demands for increasingly larger sums of money, coupled
with a growing sense of urgency.
Suddenly, either out of the blue or when you request a withdrawal, access to your investment
account is blocked, your investment manager becomes unreachable, and your money vanishes.
Like many financial fraud schemes, crypto scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated
in deceiving people out of their hard-earned money. Common scams include company
impersonation, stolen wallets, and illegal trading activities.
Scammers create fake cryptocurrency trading websites, social media channels, and crypto
wallets that mimic legitimate platforms by using similar domain names. These clone sites
often feature testimonials and trading records to appear trustworthy and credible.
Some of these sites are designed as phishing pages to steal personal information, including
passwords and recovery phrases for genuine crypto wallets. Once scammers gain access to your
details, they can change passwords, locking you out of your own accounts.
Since January 2020, crypto asset businesses are required to comply with Money Laundering
Regulations and must be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Any firm not
registered with the FCA is operating illegally and should have returned all crypto assets to
customers and ceased trading by January 2021.
"When paying for goods or services with cryptocurrency, make sure to verify that the
retailer accepts crypto as a form of payment—many do not.
If you're considering investing in cryptocurrency, be cautious of unsolicited contacts
through social media, email campaigns, messaging apps, or phone calls that promise quick and
high returns. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Cryptocurrency values
fluctuate frequently, so there are no guarantees regarding investment performance.
When researching cryptocurrency investments online, be wary of advertisements that appear
professional and lead to seemingly legitimate websites.
Conduct thorough research:
- Are they registered with the FCA?
- Have there been any complaints against them?
- Is the firm genuine or a clone pretending to be someone else?
- If you're uncertain, take your time and avoid rushing into any investment decisions.
Discuss
your options with family and friends and consider seeking advice from an independent
financial adviser.
The short answer is that very little protection is available. Cryptocurrency investments may
not be regulated by the FCA and are considered high-risk, speculative investments. You
should be prepared for the possibility of losing your entire investment if things go wrong.
If the investment is not FCA-regulated, you might not be able to seek assistance from the
Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
If you believe you have fallen victim to a cryptocurrency scam, contact your bank
immediately and report it to Action Fraud, the National Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting
Centre. If you have lost money, this may trigger a criminal investigation by the police.
In the event that criminal proceedings are initiated and there is a successful conviction,
the court can award compensation. However, it can be challenging to trace the fraudster,
especially if they are located abroad, or they may have no assets left to pay any
compensation.
Our team is here to help—we have extensive experience in handling financial claims,
including cases involving the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). We are familiar with the
process, the necessary timelines, and the complex legal arguments and defenses that banks
may present.
By leveraging our experienced team and advanced digital case management systems, we actively
pursue your claim to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Since claims are made against the banks that permitted the payments, this approach can help
navigate the anonymity and complexities of the blockchain.
The specialist fraud team at Refundud is dedicated to helping clients recover refunds. If
you have a claim, we will manage it from start to finish, keeping you informed as your case
progresses.
The claims process involves the following steps:
Submit Your Claim: You can complete our online claim form, request a callback, call our
office, or email us using the provided contact details.
Initial Discussion: A member of our fraud team will discuss your claim with you and assess
whether we can assist. If we can help, we will send you a welcome pack with useful
information about the process and the documentation we will need from you.
Case Handler Assignment: You will be assigned a dedicated case handler. If we believe you
have a valid claim after an initial assessment, we will reach out to discuss the next steps.
If we determine that you do not have a claim, we will explain our reasoning so you can
explore other options.
Documentation Review: Your case handler will request and review any additional documents
necessary to move your claim forward, which may include contacting the involved banks on
your behalf. You will receive regular updates via email and phone as needed.
Timeline and Updates: Depending on the specifics of your case and various factors beyond our
control, the refund claim process may take several months. We will keep you informed about
expected timelines and continue to update you on your claim's status. You can also reach out
to your dedicated case handler if you have any questions or concerns.