Stage by stage, including the slow parts
Six stages from first contact to final accounting, with the realistic durations and the two points at which you decide whether we carry on. Nothing here is a commitment until you approve it in writing.
What happens, and when
Intake & Assessment
1 weekWe review your documentation, confirm the fraud typology, and estimate whether the funds are still traceable. You receive a written assessment, not a sales call.
You receive: Written assessment
Forensic Trace
2–4 weeksWe follow the money. Bank-to-bank transfers, payment processor records, and where applicable on-chain analysis of cryptocurrency movements.
You receive: Fund flow map
Recovery Strategy
1 weekBased on the trace, we select the route most likely to succeed: institution-led recall, negotiated return, civil claim, or a combination. You approve the strategy before we proceed.
You receive: Your approval
Execution
1 monthFreezing requests, formal demands, engagement of local counsel, and where necessary legal proceedings. You receive progress updates on a fixed schedule throughout.
You receive: Scheduled updates
Recovery & Return
2–4 weeksRecovered funds are returned through secure, documented channels. You receive a full accounting of what was recovered and what was not.
You receive: Full accounting
Protection & Follow-up
We advise on account security, credit monitoring, and the specific controls that would have stopped the original fraud.
You receive: Protection plan
After the written assessment, before any forensic work begins. If we tell you the case isn't recoverable, this is where it ends and nothing further is owed.
After the fund flow map, before we pursue any route. You see where the money went and what each option involves in time and risk before you choose.
How long it really takes
These are typical ranges across our caseload, not promises. A straightforward recall can close in days; a contested multi-jurisdiction claim can run past a year.
| Phase | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Initial assessment | 1 week |
| Investigation | 2–3 weeks |
| Legal proceedings | Up to 4 weeks |
| Recovery execution | 2–4 weeks |
| Total | Up to 1 month |
Phases run in sequence, not in parallel, so the total is longer than the largest single phase. Complex cases — three or more jurisdictions, contested claims, or funds already converted to cash — routinely take longer than the upper end of the range.
From first call to open case
Six steps, and you can stop at any of them.
Free consultation
A 30-minute call with a recovery specialist, with no obligation. We listen to what happened and tell you plainly whether we think the funds are recoverable.
Documentation collection
We send you a checklist tailored to your fraud type, and your case lead tells you the secure way to return it.
Identity & compliance verification
Standard anti-money laundering checks: government identification, proof of address, and confirmation that you are the lawful owner of the funds.
Written engagement agreement
A plain-language agreement setting out the scope of the work, what you authorise us to do, and how to terminate it.
Case lead assignment
You are introduced to your named case lead, given their direct line and email, and told exactly when to expect the first update.
Case file opened
Your case is opened and given a reference number. From this point, every document, update, and message is kept in one place and you are told where to find it.
What you'll need
Gather what you can. Missing pieces slow a case down, they don't stop it starting — we will tell you what actually matters for your fraud type.
Financial records
Communication records
Official reports
Identification documents
On document security
Documents you send are encrypted in transit and at rest, accessible only to your case lead and the specialists on your file, and never shared for marketing or commercial purposes. Where a bank or local counsel needs a document, we share only what that party requires and we tell you when we do it. Full detail is in the Privacy Policy.
It starts with a written assessment, not a sales call
Thirty minutes on a call, then a written answer on whether recovery is realistic — within one week, with no obligation to continue.