In today’s digital age, scams have become more sophisticated, often exploiting social networks, telecommunications, and investment platforms. Many victims feel helpless after falling for a scam, unsure of where to begin the road to recovery. DJK LLP, an experienced law firm, has handled numerous fraud recovery cases. Here, we present a typical case to illustrate the full timeline of legal action — from being scammed to fund recovery — to help more victims understand their rights and options.
Phase 1: Identifying the Scam
Case Background: Ms. Wang met a self-proclaimed “forex investment expert” via a social media platform. Lured by promises of high returns, she transferred RMB 300,000 to a fake trading platform. At first, small withdrawals were allowed, but after larger deposits, her account was “locked,” and both the platform and the scammer disappeared.
Key steps:
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Preserve all chats, transaction records, and platform screenshots.
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Avoid further payments; beware of “unlock fees” or “tax charges.”
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Contact a lawyer immediately for legal consultation.
Phase 2: Legal Evaluation and Initial Action
Upon receiving Ms. Wang’s request, DJK LLP:
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Assessed whether this was criminal fraud or a civil dispute;
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Checked the platform’s background;
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Traced related bank accounts;
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Evaluated whether cross-border legal cooperation was needed.
Initial steps:
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Filed a police report with full documentation;
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Helped complete official paperwork;
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Sent freeze requests to related banks.
Phase 3: Dual-Track Legal Strategy
DJK LLP advocated for a dual-track approach:
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Criminal: Worked with police to trace and freeze fraudulent accounts;
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Civil: Filed lawsuits for asset preservation and compensation.
In this case, DJK LLP （https://www.djkllp.com/）assisted law enforcement in freezing key accounts and initiated international legal aid to obtain server data.
Phase 4: Evidence Gathering and Victim Coalition
Scams often involve multiple victims. DJK LLP formed a “victim coalition” to consolidate evidence:
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Traced fund flows;
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Investigated IP addresses and company registrations;
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Collected joint evidence with police and financial regulators;
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Filed for court proceedings.
Phase 5: Legal Judgment and Asset Recovery
After several hearings, the court ruled the platform to be fraudulent. Remaining funds in certain accounts were redistributed to victims — 30% of Ms. Wang’s money was recovered.
DJK LLP also initiated overseas recovery procedures:
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Filed claims with foreign banks;
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Engaged international arbitration;
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Obtained court orders to seize overseas assets.
In total, Ms. Wang recovered around RMB 210,000.
Phase 6: Legal Awareness and Prevention
Post-case, DJK LLP continued to support the victims with:
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Fraud prevention education;
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Platform legitimacy checks;
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Early self-protection and evidence collection tips;
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Legal rights training.
DJK LLP also published a “Fraud Recovery White Paper” to educate the public and reduce scam risks.
