The Recovery Trap

You lost Rs. 2.4 lakh to a fake investment app last week. You posted about it on a consumer forum. Now three messages have arrived. Identify which path leads to legitimate help.

Your situation You transferred Rs. 2.4 lakh to a fake trading platform called "AlphaGrowth Capital." The app has gone offline. The "portfolio manager" is not responding. You posted a warning on a consumer complaint forum 3 days ago.
Cyber Recovery Experts
WhatsApp
"Sir, we saw your post about AlphaGrowth Capital. We have already helped 6 other victims recover from this same platform. We use blockchain forensics and RBI fast-track recovery. Our success rate is 94%. Service fee: Rs. 22,000 (refundable if we fail). Please share your transaction details to begin."

Adv. Priya Sharma - Fraud Legal Cell
Email + WhatsApp
"Dear victim, our firm handles crypto and investment fraud recovery. We are currently filing a class action against AlphaGrowth Capital. We can add your case for a registration deposit of Rs. 15,000 + 12% of recovered amount. We have government connections at SEBI and ED. Act now - deadline is this Friday."

cybercrime.gov.in + Bank Fraud Team
Official channels
File a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in with all transaction details, account numbers, and communication records. Call your bank's fraud team to check if a transfer recall is possible. Call 1930 (National Cyber Crime Helpline). File with SEBI at scores.gov.in if investment fraud. All steps are free.

How to tell recovery scams from real paths

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Upfront fee required Any recovery service that charges before recovering is a scam. Legitimate paths are free or charge only on success through official processes.
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Found you via your public complaint Scammers monitor victim forums. Unsolicited contact after posting a complaint is almost always secondary fraud.
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Claims "government connections" or "RBI fast-track" No such mechanism exists. The RBI does not use private firms for fraud recovery. SEBI investigations are not accessible to private lawyers claiming special access.
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Urgent deadline pressure "File before Friday" is manufactured urgency - the same tactic as the original scam. Legitimate complaint processes have no closing windows.

Legitimate recovery paths (all free)

cybercrime.gov.in complaintFree
National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930Free
Bank transfer recall (within 24h)Free
Credit card chargebackFree
SEBI SCORES complaintFree
RBI Banking OmbudsmanFree