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Practice scenario

Fictional messages. No real account, call or payment is involved.

Enable JavaScript to try the simulated actions. You can still read the situation and answer explanations below.

A second chance?

You recently lost money in an online scam. Now someone you don’t know sends you a message.

Direct message — “Refund Support”

We can recover the money you lost.

There’s a €75 processing fee to open your case.

We guarantee your money back. Reply today to get started.

What is the safest thing to do next?
Skip this challenge

Your answer

Next step

Use your existing banking or payment app, or a contact number you already know is genuine. Explain what happened and ask what options remain.

Takeaway

Be wary of unexpected offers to recover money—especially if you must pay first.

Why this is safer

Recovery scammers may target people who have already lost money. Reviews, documents and guarantees can be fabricated. Your bank or payment provider can explain available options, but recovery is not guaranteed.

See all answers

  1. Pay because the fee is less than my loss.

    A smaller payment can still become another loss.

    Someone may be using your hope of getting the money back to persuade you to pay again.

  2. Contact my payment provider before paying this stranger.

    The hope of recovering one loss is not evidence that this sender can help.

    Contact the bank or payment provider involved and explain what happened. Ask what options are available. Getting the money back is not guaranteed.

  3. Pay if the sender’s customer reviews look convincing.

    Reviews are not proof that this person can help.

    Reviews and success stories can be fake. Those supplied by the sender are not independent confirmation.

  4. Pay after getting a written money-back guarantee.

    A promise does not make the offer genuine.

    A written guarantee can be invented just as easily as a message. It does not prove the sender can recover your money.

Optional practice — simulated screens

Try the next step

Choose a screen to open. Nothing outside this practice page will open.

The unexpected recovery offer

Pay a €75 fee to open your recovery case.

This leads back to the person asking you to pay. Choose a contact route you already have instead.

Your banking app — simulated help

Help

Report a payment problem

Keep your payment records and messages.

You are contacting your own provider. Explain what happened and ask what options are available; recovery is not guaranteed.

A contact route you already have

You use contact details from your existing app or payment records.

These details were not supplied by the stranger. Ask your provider about the payment without sending another recovery fee.

Practice complete

Challenge complete.

You practised finding help without paying an unexpected recovery offer.

Has something like this happened to you?

Contact your bank or payment provider promptly and keep copies of messages and payment records. Do not send another payment to the person offering recovery. Ask what options remain; getting the money back is not guaranteed.

Next situation:

Just €1.80?
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Exploring a situation is practice, not proof that you will spot every scam.

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