Crypto Recovery Services, CryptoForensics, Swift Responses, ReCryptocurrency Recovery Services, and MaxCore
The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Securities Division has received a complaint that purported cryptocurrency recovery services going by the names, CryptoForensics, Swift Responses, ReCryptocurrency Recovery Services, and MaxCore, may have engaged in fraud. The companies used the websites CryptoForensics.com and SwiftResponses.com. Additional websites, SwiftResponseCrypto.com, MCores.vip/download, and MaxCoreBitcoinRecovery.com, may also be associated with the listed companies. None of these websites, except SwiftResponseCrypto.com, was accessible as of the writing of this alert.
Individuals associated with the companies reached out to the investor with the promise that they could assist in recovering funds that the investor lost in previous cryptocurrency transactions. The individuals, identifying themselves as Kerry Jean Evans, Ronald Smith, and Petr Anthony, communicated with the investor via phone and email. They instructed the investor to wire funds to a Crypto.com account, from where the money was then transferred into various cryptocurrency wallets provided by the perpetrators. At the perpetrators’ direction, the investor made a series of transfers to Crypto.com, converted the funds to Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Tether (USDT), and transferred the funds to multiple different wallet addresses. According to the perpetrators, the investor would receive a full return of the funds invested, along with the profits. Despite repeated reassurances, no returns or profits were ever received.
SwiftResponseCrypto.com, which may be currently operating a cryptocurrency recovery scam, claims to assist people in recovering stolen cryptocurrency using advanced blockchain analytics. Several red flags were identified on the website. For example, contact information indicates the company is located in Sacramento, California. However, the business does not appear to be registered in that state. Further, according to the website, the company’s recovery process in most cases is resolved in 24 to 48 hours, and “…may include you sending us your wallet file, hardware, or we may ask to remotely control your computer.” In reality, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to recover cryptocurrency sent to scammers, even with the use of advanced blockchain analytics. Additionally, any request for access to your wallet, hardware, or computer, should be viewed as likely indication of a scam.
These allegations have not been verified by DFI.
This appears to be what is commonly called an “Asset Recovery Scam,” which is a scam by a third party requiring a fee to purportedly recover lost funds in a prior fraudulent transaction. You can learn more about these scams here: Refund and Recovery Scams.
DFI urges consumers to exercise extreme caution before responding to any solicitation offering investment or financial services. Investment professionals need to be licensed with DFI to offer investments to Washington residents. In addition, most investment products sold need to be registered with DFI.
To check the licensing status and to find out if there are any complaints against an investment professional or investment product, please visit FINRA Brokercheck or contact the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, Securities Division at (360) 902-8760. If you live outside of Washington State, contact your state securities regulator.
If a consumer believes a person or company has violated state law or acted improperly regarding an investment product or service, they may file a formal complaint with the Securities Division.
Additional Resources:
Protecting Yourself from Financial Fraud (wa.gov)
Virtual Currency, Cryptocurrency, and Digital Assets Information for Consumers