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Van Orton Recovery
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Frequently asked questions

What people ask before getting started

Can I really get my money back from a scammer?
Recovery starts with locating where the funds went. We trace your stolen assets, identify the institutions holding them, and pursue recovery through law enforcement and, where appropriate, the civil courts. Every case is different, and we pursue every legitimate avenue to give you the best possible odds.
Do you guarantee recovery?
No honest firm can promise a specific result, and we won't. What we do promise: we investigate and locate your assets across every relevant jurisdiction, and we pursue every legitimate avenue to give you the best possible chance of getting your money back. Our flat fee is also covered by a 30-day refund guarantee.
My loss happened over a year ago. Is it too late?
Usually not. Starting early helps, but time passed is rarely the deciding factor: we’ve recovered more than half of a loss that was over a year old.
How do I know you’re not a scam too?
It’s a fair question, and we encourage you to check. You can confirm us on Delaware’s state registry, read independently verified client reviews, see who leads your investigation, and ask as many questions as you like before deciding. We never ask for payment in cryptocurrency, and our flat fee is covered by a 30-day refund guarantee from the day you pay.
What does the free case assessment include?
A complimentary review of your evidence: transaction records, messages, and wallet or bank details. A cybersecurity and financial exposure audit. An honest read on your recovery odds. The recommended recovery strategy. A quote and payment options, often within hours. There is no obligation: you decide whether to proceed once you have our quote.
How long does an investigation take?
Asset tracking, which we manage entirely, takes 48 hours. Recovery efforts start within a week of engaging our services and typically run around 60 days, as they involve third parties such as exchanges, financial institutions, and law enforcement. Timelines vary by case complexity.
Do you work with law enforcement directly?
Yes. We share our investigative findings with relevant U.S. agencies including the FBI and the Department of Justice. In August 2025, our intelligence was directly instrumental in a $5.6 million asset freeze carried out by U.S. law enforcement.
Can you handle cases outside the United States?
Yes. We specialize in both domestic and international recoveries, with extensive local contacts across Russia, China, Southeast Asia, and beyond. For civil recovery, we work with vetted legal professionals in the relevant jurisdiction.
What is the minimum loss you take on?
We work on losses from $10,000 upward. For losses of $10,000 or over, our Standard Case (Tier I) delivers full end-to-end recovery, and our Complex & Cross-Border (Tier II) package adds civil recovery for larger or cross-border cases.
What if I don’t know the exact amount I lost?
We begin every case with a full financial audit to establish the true total loss. Victims frequently underestimate what was taken. We account for everything before any tracking begins.
Are you just a tracing firm?
No. Unlike most firms in this space, we offer a full end-to-end service: investigation, asset tracking, third-party coordination, and active recovery pursuit. We do not stop at locating funds. Tracing-only engagements are available on request for clients who require only that component.
Can I make monthly payments?
Yes. Payment plans of 3 to 24 months are available for the Standard Case (Tier I) flat fee. For Complex & Cross-Border (Tier II), payment plans are available for the Standard Case portion; civil recovery costs are scoped separately and are not covered by payment plans.
Do you offer a refund guarantee?
Yes. The full $2,000 flat fee is covered by a 30-day refund guarantee, starting from the day you pay, whether you pay in full or on a payment plan. The terms are set out in your case agreement. This guarantee covers our fee.
Why isn’t there a “no win, no fee” option?
Recovery takes hundreds or thousands of hours of work, so a percentage-only arrangement isn’t workable for a legitimate firm. Be cautious with services that offer one. The only true contingency provider in this space, Ciphertrace, was acquired by Mastercard and shut down.
Are there any hidden fees?
No. On the law enforcement route the government litigates at no cost to you. Any court administrative fees on successful recovery are small, typically $50 to $100, billed directly by the court, not by us.
What is the civil recovery route?
An option for some larger cases: pursuing your assets through the civil courts where the funds were tracked or where the scammers reside. Every case starts on the law enforcement route, and if the civil route is relevant to yours, we explain it during your assessment.
What will I receive during the investigation?
A weekly status report detailing intelligence gathered, key findings, and progress to date. At the conclusion of the engagement, we provide full asset trace documentation and all relevant deliverables.

Still have a question? Our free consultation is covered by an unlimited-questions policy.

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