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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. No firm can guarantee recovery, but we apply every legitimate avenue to maximize your odds.
Do you guarantee recovery?
No. Guaranteeing recovery is unethical and borderline illegal, and any firm that does is running a scam. What we guarantee is that we will investigate and locate your assets across all relevant jurisdictions and apply every available avenue to maximize your recovery odds.
My loss happened over a year ago. Is it too late?
Usually not. The earlier you start the better, but you should not put too much weight on how much time has passed. On one case we assessed as very low odds, with losses more than a year old, we still recovered funds covering more than half of what the client lost.
How do I know you’re not a scam too?
Healthy skepticism, by our estimate 4 in 5 recovery services online are fraudulent. Two reliable checks: keep asking questions about the process until you’re satisfied, and choose a long payment plan through Klarna, whose buyer protection can refund your first payment if a provider fails to deliver.
How long does an investigation take?
Typically 3 weeks to 90 days. Asset tracking, which we manage entirely, takes 1 to 2 weeks. The recovery phase involves third parties and can take from 1 week up to 60 to 70 days. 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. We offer 3 to 24 month payment plans on the Standard Case (Tier I) flat fee. For Complex & Cross-Border (Tier II), the Standard Case portion may be eligible; civil recovery costs are scoped separately and are not covered by payment plans.
Why isn’t there a “no win, no fee” option?
Asset recovery requires hundreds or thousands of hours of work. No legitimate firm can absorb those costs on contingency. Percentage-only arrangements are almost always fraudulent or unqualified. 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 alternative to the law enforcement route, pursuing your assets through civil courts in the jurisdiction where the funds were tracked or where the scammers reside. All cases start on the law enforcement route. We propose the civil route only when it is necessary or clearly in your interest. Additional costs apply.
What will I receive during the investigation?
A monthly 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.

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