Months after the actual fraud, you receive mail or an email with a PDF attachment. The sender is a law firm, a government agency, or a court, often displaying a coat of arms, file number, and signature. The content sounds promising: your case is part of a larger proceeding, a sum of money is secured for you, and payment is imminent. You are only asked to pay a fee, a deposit, or a tax beforehand.
This letter is a forgery, and it's the second stage of the same scam. It specifically targets people who have already been harmed because their data is on lists that are resold. That's precisely where its effectiveness lies: it hits victims when they're expecting a solution.
Crypto Investigation regularly receives such letters for review. This article shows how to recognize fake letters from government agencies and law firms, how they differ from classic recovery scams, and what you should do if you receive one.
The most important information at a glance
- Basic rule: Neither courts, nor public prosecutors, nor supervisory authorities require victims to make advance payments for the disbursement of secured funds.
- Target audience: Previous victims of fraud are specifically targeted. Contact details are obtained from the initial incident or from public forum posts.
- Identifying characteristics: Payment to a private account or in cryptocurrency, time pressure, contact only via email or messenger, spelling errors in official titles.
- Unlike a recovery scam, this one doesn't offer a service; instead, it claims to be an official obligation. This creates additional pressure.
- Verification procedure: Call the authority or law firm using official contact details that you have researched yourself, never using the details provided in the letter.
- Important: Even the falsified transaction is a criminal offense and must be reported because it contributes to clarifying the overall structure.
Typical types of forged letters
The alleged court or public prosecutor's letter
It states that assets have been seized during an investigation and that you are entitled to a share. Payment is required for court costs, a deposit, or a processing fee. Often, a genuine court with the correct address is mentioned, but a different phone number and email address from an independent provider are given.
The alleged regulatory authority
The site claims that a platform has been shut down and customer funds are being refunded. Users are required to complete an identity verification process, often involving the uploading of identification documents, followed by payment for approval. The ID upload serves a specific purpose, as we describe in our article on identity theft following fake verification.
The alleged law firm
A law firm will contact you, claiming to represent a group of victims and stating that they have accepted your case. They will request an advance payment to join the class action lawsuit. Often, the names of genuine law firms or lawyers are used, but the lawyers themselves are unaware of the arrangement. A quick look in the public directory of lawyers and a call to the listed number will clarify the situation.
The alleged tax or customs demand
In this version, funds are allegedly frozen abroad and can only be transferred after payment of a tax or customs fee. This version often occurs as a continuation of a recovery scam after payment has already been made to a supposed repatriation agency.
How to recognize forged official letters
The strongest characteristic is substantive, not formal. In Germany, there is no procedure in which victims must pay upfront to access secured or confiscated funds. Claims are registered within the legal process, not bought out. Any request to transfer money before payment is therefore invalid, regardless of the letter's appearance.
Formal characteristics also come into play. Check whether payment is requested to a private account, a payment service, or in cryptocurrency. Government agencies don't operate this way. Check the email address: Official bodies use their own domains, not publicly available mailboxes. Beware of deadlines of just a few days, threats of forfeiture of the claim, and requests to treat the matter confidentially.
Also, take a close look at the terminology. Forged documents often contain official titles that don't exist, a mix of different bureaucratic structures, or references to regulations that don't apply to the described situation. A file number alone proves nothing; it can be fabricated.
The most reliable verification step is a phone call. Research the phone number of the allegedly sender yourself, either through their official website or a public directory, and ask for the reference number at that number. Never use the contact details from the letter, including the extension number provided.
Why this scam works so well
The difference to a classic recovery scam lies in the roles being played. A recovery agency offers a service that can be declined. An official letter asserts an obligation and a deadline. This shifts the decision-making process: Instead of assessing whether an offer makes sense, those affected consider whether they can afford to make a mistake.
Then there's the timing. The letters arrive when the proceedings are stalled, when nothing has happened for a long time, or when a formal complaint is actually pending. The fact that proceedings exist somewhere lends credibility to the claim. And the sum allegedly to be released often corresponds almost exactly to the actual loss, because the perpetrators know this amount.
What you should do if you receive such a letter
Do not pay anything, not even a small amount for verification. Do not reply to the provided address and do not call the given number back. Open attachments with caution and do not upload any documents.
Instead, save everything: the original letter, the complete email headers, the mentioned account details or wallet addresses, names, and file numbers. This information is valuable for the investigation because it often recurs across many cases.
File a police report, even if you haven't paid anything. Attempting fraud is a crime, and every reported variation helps to understand the underlying structure. If there is already a formal investigation underway regarding your original case, inform the relevant authorities about the letter. If you have already paid, the same applies as with the original fraud: stop payments, secure evidence, document the payment method, and have the trail investigated.
Have a suspicious letter checked
Have you received a letter that looks like it's from a government agency, court, or law firm, and you're unsure what to make of it? We'll review the matter, classify it based on known patterns, and check the payment methods mentioned for connections to structures already on record.
Use the form for the free initial assessment on our website. Please send the letter and, if available, the email with complete headers.
FAQ: Fake official letters after crypto fraud
Do authorities charge fees for the disbursement of secured funds?
No. Claims are registered during the legal process and are not released through advance payments. Any request to transfer money before receiving payment is a sure sign of a fraud.
How do the perpetrators know about my case?
From the initial incident itself, from resold data sets, or from public posts in forums and groups. Therefore, we advise against publicly describing details of your own case.
The document mentions a real court; is it then genuine?
No. Real names and addresses are deliberately used. What's crucial are the return channels: different telephone numbers, email addresses for independent providers, and private payment recipients.
How do I check a file number?
Call the office using a number you have found yourself on their official website or in a public directory. Do not use contact information from the letter.
What is the difference to a recovery scam?
A recovery scam offers a service. The fake official letter claims a legal obligation with a deadline. This creates more pressure and reduces the willingness to comply.
Should I file a police report even though I haven't paid?
Yes. The attempt is a crime, and the accounts, addresses, and names mentioned appear frequently in many cases. Every report improves the overall picture.
I've already paid, what now?
Stop all further payments, save all receipts and communications, and file a police report. Cryptocurrency payments can be traced; for bank transfers, a prompt notification to the bank may be advisable.
Am I allowed to upload identification documents?
Do not send emails to senders whose authenticity you have not independently verified. Uploading is often the actual purpose of these messages and leads to identity theft.
Could there be a genuine legal process behind this?
It's possible that an investigation into your original case is indeed underway. However, contact will then be made through official channels and without a payment request. If in doubt, contact the office where you filed your report.
How can I protect myself in the future?
Treat any unsolicited contact regarding your case as suspicious, verify senders exclusively through your own research methods, and do not share any details of your case in public posts.
Further articles on this topic: Repatriation agency or recovery scam, Detect recovery scam, Identity theft after verification, How to properly file a criminal complaint as well as How to recognize crypto fraud.
Note: This article is for general information purposes only and does not replace legal advice in individual cases. Crypto Investigation is a forensic service provider and not a law firm.
