The FBI ( reports that a disturbing new type of fraud is spreading: scammers impersonating lawyers are proactively contacting victims of crypto asset scams, promising to recover their funds, and then stealing more money. This eyegash exploits people's desperation with astonishing complexity. In an alert released on August 13, the FBI exposed a meticulously planned scheme in which scammers posed as lawyers and law firms, specifically targeting victims who have already lost funds due to crypto asset schemes. These fake lawyers claim they can recover stolen funds through legal channels, often citing fabricated government partnerships or fictional organizations like the "International Financial Trade Commission." The FBI states that victims are forced to pay upfront fees, usually in the form of crypto assets or prepaid gift cards, which are then transferred to WhatsApp group chats to connect with so-called "bank processing personnel" and other impersonated officials. By the time the targets realize it’s a scam, their funds have long since vanished. The FBI's latest warning shows that these fake law firms employ disturbingly effective strategies to appear legitimate. One obvious sign is their use of seemingly authentic legal documents, which bear letterheads stolen from real companies and claim to have special partnerships with government agencies, a red flag since no private law firm possesses such official names. The particularly insidious nature of these scams lies in the level of investigation conducted on victims. Scammers often know precise details about their targets' previous losses, including the exact amount stolen, transaction dates, and even the names of the original scam operations. This in-depth knowledge disarms victims and makes the fake lawyers seem more credible. When victims are instructed to register accounts at what appear to be foreign banks, the scheme often escalates; these banks have seemingly professional websites but are actually complex facades designed to extract more money. Law enforcement experts recommend adopting a so-called "zero trust" approach when dealing with any proactive recovery services offered. This means automatically treating any unexpected contact with suspicion until proven otherwise. The FBI emphasizes that any refusal to appear on camera or provide basic licensing information should be viewed as an immediate termination of the transaction. The FBI also advises keeping detailed records of all interactions, including saving email communications and recording video calls whenever possible. These documents may prove invaluable to investigators.