Cybercrime victims are increasingly being targeted a second time by fraudsters posing as lawyers, law enforcement officials, and recovery specialists who falsely promise they can retrieve stolen funds, according to The New York Times. 

In a report published Friday, the Times recounted the case of Nick Jonas, whose 81-year-old father lost at least $1 million in a romance scam two years ago. After the family reported the fraud to federal authorities, a man claiming to be a lawyer working with the U.S. Treasury Department contacted the elder Jonas and said law enforcement might be able to recover the money.

The younger Jonas, suspicious but hopeful, contacted the supposed lawyer, who said he worked for a firm called Edward International Legal Corporation. The man agreed to a video call over Signal and appeared on screen seated behind a desk, with an American flag and framed certificates visible in the background, the Times reported.

But the ruse collapsed when Jonas asked for identification and legal credentials, according to the report. The documents the scammer sent included an AI-generated image intended to match the man on the video call, confirming to Jonas that the offer was fraudulent. 

The Times said the scheme is an example of a “recovery scam,” in which criminals exploit victims’ desire to recoup stolen money. Such schemes are gaining traction as financial losses from cybercrime mount, with at least $16.6 billion in losses from recovery scams reported in 2024, the newspaper said.

Amy Nofziger, senior director of fraud victim support for the AARP Fraud Watch Network, told the Times that scams are becoming more frequent. Victims who have lost large sums, she said, are often more willing to spend additional money pursuing a potential recovery.

The fake Edward International operation used the identity of a real California lawyer, Dennis John Solis of Escondido, the NYT said. Solis, who is licensed but not currently practicing and now works for a nonprofit, said he learned of the impersonation when an investigator with the California state bar contacted him after receiving a complaint. 

Although the matter against him was dismissed as identity theft, Solis said told the Times that he still receives calls related to the scam. He has since changed the phone number on his California bar profile and recorded a message warning callers that any communication from Edward International Legal Corporation is fraudulent.

Read more at The New York Times