It is a shocking moment to realize that the platform you thought you invested in does not give your money back. One day you believe that you have created a portfolio with a professional brokerage firm; The next day, your "account manager" disappears, your withdrawal request remains suspended, or the site becomes completely inaccessible. This guide explains in a calm and orderly manner exactly what you should do in this situation. Our aim is not to promise you a recovery; It is to help you take the right steps in the first hours. Because the first days are the most critical period in terms of the possibility of freezing, monitoring or objecting to funds.
First of all, stop sending money. Fraudulent operations are designed to persuade the victim to pay "one more time": a kickback for opening the check, a fictitious tax, or a fake collateral call. Once you become suspicious, every dollar you send turns into an amount that is much more difficult to get back.
You don't have to confront the scammers or make it known that you noticed the situation. Staying silent can save you time while securing your evidence.
Evidence is the backbone of every next step; Whether you are dealing with your bank, the Dutch police and Public Prosecution Service or a regulatory institution. Catching this material early is vital, as fake platforms and communication channels can disappear overnight.
Take screenshots and export the original files if possible. Keep copies in at least two places; for example, on your computer and in a cloud folder. Don't let a lost or stolen phone erase everything.
Your bank is often the fastest way to hold funds. When money leaves the banking system, especially when it moves into crypto or offshore accounts, options narrow quickly.
Call your bank without delay and make the transferto be recalledRequest (refund request). A recall is a formal request to the receiving bank for the return of funds and has the best chance of success if the money has not yet left the receiving account. Ask the bank to mark the recipient account as suspicious.
OnechargebackAsk about making a request. Card rules (Visa, Mastercard) allow appeals for services not provided or fraudulent transactions; however, the deadlines are strict and generally run from the transaction date. Make it clear that you did not receive the promised investment service and that you were scammed.
If you bought from a regulated exchange and sent it to scammers, notify the exchange's compliance team with the transaction hashes. If the target wallet is held on another exchange, that exchange may freeze the funds upon proper judicial request; This shows why filing a criminal complaint is important.
The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) supervises conduct in the financial markets, while De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) is responsible for prudential supervision of banks and payment institutions. If your bank does not handle your complaint properly, ask for its formal complaints procedure and keep a written record of every response.
Investment fraud is a crime. In the Netherlands, such acts are considered within the scope of fraud provisions of the Dutch Criminal Code (Wetboek van Strafrecht) and may be investigated by the Dutch police under the authority of the Public Prosecution Service. Filing a criminal complaint creates an official record, can initiate an investigation, and is often a prerequisite for the cooperation of banks and exchanges.
A criminal complaint is important even if the perpetrators are abroad; It connects your file to the national system and opens the door to international legal assistance. Since these operations rarely target a single person, your application may also be linked to the files of other victims.
FIU-Netherlands analyses unusual transactions reported by institutions and shares relevant intelligence with investigative authorities. It plays a role in tracking funds raised through fraud and detecting suspicious transaction flows. Reporting the incident to FIU-Netherlands contributes to the entry of money movement into official records and the examination of relevant transactions.
The Capital Markets Board (AFM) supervises capital market activities and issues warnings about unauthorized institutions that provide investment services to the public. Report the "brokerage firm" that took money from you to the AFM and check the AFM's list of authorized institutions and investor warnings. If the organization in question is not licensed by the AFM, this determination is important for your file; It reveals that you are dealing with an illegal structure.
If you paid with crypto, remember that blockchain records are permanent. Storing the wallet addresses and transaction hashes to which you send funds is valuable for future on-chain analysis. These records are not deleted; Even though funds go through mixers and exchanges, they leave a trace.
This step deserves special emphasis; because it recaptures many of those who were once victimized. After the fraud, victims are often targeted a second time in the name of "recovery". These people may present themselves as lawyers, computer forensics experts, public officials, or even the old platform with a new name.
A trusted advisor clearly communicates what is realistic, explains their process transparently, never guarantees results, and will not ask you to pay to “unlock” funds. When in doubt, slow down and verify independently.
Different steps have different hours. Bank recalls are most effective in the hours to several days before the receiving account is emptied. Card chargebacks are subject to deadlines in card rules; Start without waiting. Although criminal complaints filed with the Dutch police and Public Prosecution Service do not have the same immediate window, early filing preserves evidence. Crypto monitoring is time sensitive; funds move quickly, but on-chain records are permanent.
In summary: the faster you act, the more doors remain open. However, never assume it is "too late"; Documents and complaints retain their value over time, and files can be revived when new victims emerge.
You can take the first steps above yourself: stop the payment, keep the evidence, contact your bank and report it to the authorities. Professional support becomes valuable when the situation becomes more complex than a single domestic transfer: when large amounts and multiple payments are involved, when funds move through crypto or multiple countries, when language and procedural barriers with foreign banks and exchanges slow down the process, or when dubious recovery scammers target you.
Our role as Prime Claim; organize the evidence, evaluate the trace of the flow of funds, support you in your correspondence with institutions and help you establish realistic expectations. What we won't do is guarantee results or charge you to "unlock" your own money. If you would like an honest look at your situation, we will evaluate your case free of charge and confidentially; We listen to you, explain your possible legal options, and never make any promises we can't stand behind.
Send us the details of your file. Your initial evaluation is free, confidential and obligation-free.
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