The short version
If someone asks you to pay so that your money can be returned or "released", it is a scam. That includes fees, taxes, deposits, "verification" payments and "proof of funds". Legitimate investigators, police and regulators don't work that way.
How it usually happens
- They find you. A message, comment or call soon after your loss — often because you posted about it, joined a "victims" group, or your details were on the scammers' own list.
- They sound official. They claim to be a "blockchain recovery firm", an "ethical hacker", a lawyer, an exchange's compliance team, the Hawks, SAPS, the FSCA, Interpol or the FBI. They may use real names, logos and look-alike websites.
- They show "proof". A screenshot of your funds "located", a fake court order, a fake freeze letter, or a dashboard showing your money waiting.
- Then the fee. To release it you must pay first — a "tax", "legal fee", "gas fee", "unlock fee" or "anti-money-laundering deposit". Then another. And another.
Warning signs
- They contacted you first
- They promise, or strongly suggest, that your money will come back
- They want payment upfront, especially in crypto or gift cards
- They ask for your seed phrase, private key, passwords or one-time PINs
- They want remote access to your phone or computer (AnyDesk, TeamViewer and similar)
- They say they have "inside contacts" at the police, the Hawks, an exchange or the FSCA
- They rush you: "the funds will be lost if you don't pay today"
- They ask you to keep it secret, even from your bank or family
- Their email is a Gmail, Outlook or look-alike address, or the website was created recently
What real help looks like
- Police and regulators never charge you to open a case or return money.
- Banks and exchanges deal with you through their official app, website and phone numbers — check these yourself, don't use contact details someone sends you.
- Genuine investigators explain what tracing can and can't do, don't promise outcomes, agree any fee in writing before work starts, and never need your keys or passwords.
- This service is free. We never contact you first, never ask for money, and never ask for your seed phrase. How to check it's really us.
If you've already paid a "recovery" service
- Stop paying and stop replying.
- Call your bank's fraud line if you paid by card or EFT.
- Keep every message, invoice and payment detail — this is a separate crime.
- Add it to your police case, or open one. You can report it here too: choose "Someone offered to recover lost funds for a fee".
- If you gave remote access or shared passwords, change them from a device you trust and remove the remote-access app.
Someone says they're from us?
If anyone contacts you claiming to be from CRYME or this reporting service and asks for money, keys or passwords, it isn't us. Please forward the details to info@cryme.co.za so we can warn others.