This is the case we most want people to read, because it is the one we most want to prevent. After being scammed once, our client was targeted again — this time by a fake “recovery” firm. If you take one thing from our Insights, let it be this.
Reported operator: Reiman Group · Location: London, United Kingdom · Reported loss: £18,700 (second loss)
Timeline to resolution: 6 weeks · Outcome: 39% of traced funds returned
How it started
Paul had already lost money to a fake broker when “Reiman Group” contacted him claiming they could recover it — for an upfront fee. Desperate, he paid £18,700 in stages for “legal costs,” “release fees,” and “taxes.”
The moment it unravelled
Reiman Group was a recovery scam: a second operation that hunts existing victims, knowing they are vulnerable and motivated. Genuine recovery work does not demand large upfront fees to “unlock” funds that someone else holds.
“After the first scam I swore I’d never be fooled again — and then I was, by the people who said they’d help. AssetsCollector were the first who didn’t ask for money up front. That alone told me they were different.”
— P. Hollis, London
What we did
We traced the fees Paul paid to Reiman Group, documented the second fraud, and pursued the most reachable portion. Just as important, we made sure he understood how to recognise the next approach, because there is always a next approach.
The outcome
About 39% of the second-loss fees were recovered over six weeks. The deeper value was breaking the cycle: no more “upfront fee” payments, and a clear-eyed view of how recovery scams operate.
What you can take from this
- If someone contacts YOU promising to recover lost crypto for an upfront fee, treat it as a scam.
- Recovery-scam operators specifically target people who were already scammed.
- Legitimate investigators are transparent about fees and never demand a large payment to “release” your money.
If you have been affected by Reiman Group or a platform that behaves the same way, you can request a free case review. We will look at the evidence and tell you honestly whether your case is worth pursuing — recovery is never guaranteed, but knowing where your funds went is the first real step.