Tragic Consequence of a Second Scam
An elderly German man in his late 70s, who had already lost his entire savings—estimated at €400,000—to the fraudulent schemes orchestrated by Uwe Lenhoff, fell victim once again. In a desperate attempt to recover his funds, he was contacted by a so-called Fund Recovery service. These individuals claimed they could retrieve his stolen money but required a prepayment of several thousand euros. Trusting their promises, the man borrowed money from a friend to cover the upfront cost—only to be scammed again. In the aftermath, overwhelmed by hopelessness and financial ruin, the man took his own life last week.
The Lasting Damage of Lenhoff’s Cybercrime Network
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Uwe Lenhoff, age 56, was arrested in early 2019 following cross-border investigations.
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He was considered the ringleader of an international cybercrime operation involving fraud and money laundering.
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In July 2020, Lenhoff was found dead in his prison cell. While the official cause of death is presumed suicide, foul play has not been definitively ruled out.
Lenhoff operated a web of scams across Europe, particularly targeting victims in:
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Germany
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Austria
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Switzerland
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Italy
These operations were facilitated by Global Payment Solutions Podgorica DOO (GPS), a payment processor co-run by associates in Belgrade, Serbia. GPS served as a key channel through which millions of euros were funneled from elderly victims tricked by boiler room agents. Scam-Or Project has identified multiple cases involving victims who lost hundreds of thousands of euros, and investigations are still ongoing despite Lenhoff’s death.
The Fund Recovery Scam Trap
Fund recovery scams are often run by:
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The same fraudsters responsible for the original scams
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Or third parties who have purchased or stolen victim databases
Tactics Used by Recovery Scammers:
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Gaining trust through insider knowledge about the previous scam
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Promising full fund recovery for an upfront fee
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Leaving victims defrauded a second time, emotionally devastated, and financially broken
For some victims, the realization that they have been scammed again is too much to bear—as seen in this heartbreaking case. Unfortunately, suicides linked to such re-victimization are not uncommon.
A Warning and a Call for Information
Fund recovery scammers represent the lowest tier of deception, exploiting victims who are already vulnerable. If Dante’s Inferno had a specific place for them, it would be in the deepest circle of fraud. Lenhoff may already reside there, waiting for his accomplices to join him.
❗ Warning: Never pay upfront fees to “recovery agents” promising to retrieve lost funds. These offers are almost always fraudulent.
Help Us Expose Them
If you have been approached by suspicious fund recovery services or have relevant information regarding these schemes, please contact Scam-Or Project. Your report could help prevent further tragedies.