Why we ask for a refundable deposit, in plain English

What the deposit is for

The deposit does two things, and only two things:

1. 1It verifies that you are the person whose funds were lost.
2. 2It connects that verified identity to your case file, so the case, the evidence and any recovered funds can only ever be released to you.

That is it. It is not a payment for a recovery outcome, and it is not a success fee.

Why identity has to be proven at all

We deal with stolen money. When funds move, an exchange, a bank or a court needs to be satisfied that the person claiming them is the rightful owner. If we cannot evidence that link, the claim stalls, whatever the blockchain shows.

Fraudsters also target recovery firms directly, trying to claim a genuine victim's case as their own. Binding a verified identity to a file closes that door.

Why it is refundable

Because it is a verification step, not a purchase. It is held against your file, it is documented in writing before you pay anything, and the terms of its return are set out in that same document. Read it. If any part of it is unclear, ask before you pay.

What honest deposits look like, and what scams look like

A legitimate verification step is:

• written down before payment, with the amount fixed
• paid to a named company you can look up on a public register
• explained without pressure, with time to read the terms

Warning signs of a scam:

• new "fees", "taxes" or "unlocking costs" appearing after you pay
• amounts that keep rising
• pressure to pay within minutes
• requests for your seed phrase, private keys or remote access to your device

If you are ever asked for something that matches the second list, by anyone claiming to be us, stop and contact us through cftrace.com.

Before you commit

Read our pricing page, read the written agreement, and check our company number on the UK register. If all three line up, you know exactly what you are paying for.