Nearly half of all scam victims are caught out AGAIN – as expert issues urgent crypto warning
THREE in ten scam victims have been defrauded more than once as an expert issued an urgent warning to protect your savings.
Experts warned vile scammers are hitting targets over and over while pretending to be different companies in their most brazen tactic yet.
Their data can even be sold on to other scam groups to launch their own fraud attacks.
Research by National Fraud Helpline solicitors found that out of 250 fraud victims, some 74 said had fallen victim to at least two scams.
They include an East Anglian GP who lost £50,000 from a fake fraud recovery scam firm last month.
Scammers claimed they could help him get back more than £120,000 he had already lost through a cryptocurrency investment con.
He says the stress is likely to cause his wife to divorce him.
Martin Richardson, senior partner at National Fraud Helpline solicitors, said: “We’re seeing an increase in people who have been scammed then being contacted by fake fraud recovery firms.
“This seems to be a particular problem for people who have lost money through crypto investments.
“The fake firm seems convincing because they tell victims that they can see where the lost crypto money is.
“Of course, the only reason they know this is because they’ve stolen the money in the first place.
“These scammers are wreaking ever more misery on their victims.
“Our most simple piece of advice is do not pay an upfront fee to a firm offering to recover your lost scam money.”
The family doctor said: “I was trying to save my marriage. This company offered a possibility, and they showed me screen shots of all the money they’d found.
“I said ‘That’s great’, and then of course it was ‘Pay this to get it out, pay that to get it out.”
But the scammers then took control of his laptop after he granted them remote access, and moved £50,000 from his bank account.
He added: “I suspect the outcome will be divorce. We live in different parts of the house, and she doesn’t talk to me.
“It was toxic for my children who came home for Christmas. I’m stupid, I know that, and there’s nothing I can say that makes it any better.”
“The scammers said “it’s been wonderful doing business with you’, ad that was the last I heard from them.”
National Fraud Helpline solicitors said victims in a similar situation can contact them for help recovering funds from high street banks.
The law firm is now working to reclaim the GP’s money.