The complaint pattern is familiar. Someone writing as a consultant — names such as “Stanislav consulting” appear in victim reports — says money lost on a dubious trading desk has been located on a well-known exchange. A partner posing as a foreign law firm joins the chat. The next step is registration on a little-known wallet brand (reported in one case as ScapSo / Scapso) and payment of a United States tax before the balance can move to your own address. Refuse the tax, and the same people may pivot to a “professional fee” threat.
A quick web check does not turn up a reputable, regulated recovery firm that operates under those boutique labels with transparent ownership and audited results. What does match public warnings from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and other agencies is classic recovery fraud: an advance fee dressed up as tax, clearance or release. Legitimate exchanges do not ask you to fund a stranger’s wallet to unlock a withdrawal, and tax authorities do not collect capital-gains bills through Telegram consultants.
Treat any unsolicited “we found your crypto” message as hostile until proven otherwise. Do not pay the tax, do not share seed phrases or exchange logins, and do not send identity packs to clear a fictional hold. If you already paid once, stop — second and third “fees” are part of the script.
If this already cost you money, start at Get help. Read Fake recovery before you answer the next helpful stranger.
This article is for general information only. It is not legal or financial advice. Details change. If you have lost money, contact your bank or card issuer and use the routes on the help pages.