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I've been scammed in crypto — what do I do right now?
Blockchain Fraud · Forensic Intelligence
Short answerStop sending money, preserve every screenshot and wallet address, file at ic3.gov, and get the transactions documented promptly. Recovery is sometimes possible but never guaranteed — and a promise to get your money back is a common warning sign of a recovery scam.
The single most important thing to know: the first hours matter most. Stolen crypto moves quickly, often swept out of the receiving wallet within seconds and pushed through a chain of addresses toward an exchange. The faster the money is documented and reported, the better the odds that an exchange or Tether can freeze what's left.
Here is exactly what to do, in order.
Stop the bleeding
Send nothing more. If you're being told to pay a "fee," "tax," or "verification" charge to withdraw or unlock funds, that is not a real step — it is the next theft. No legitimate platform charges you to release your own money.
Preserve the evidence
Screenshot everything before it disappears: the messages, the website or app, the profile, and every wallet address and transaction hash. Save the amounts and dates, and keep any "account statement" or document they sent — the file itself often carries proof it was faked.
Cut off contact
Stop talking to them. Don't warn them, don't negotiate. Alerting them may prompt them to move funds sooner.
Report it officially
File with the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov, report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and flag the wallet addresses on chainabuse.com. Keep your IC3 complaint number.
Get the money traced
A forensic trace follows the funds on-chain to the exchange where they arrived. Regulated exchanges typically collect customer identity information, which law enforcement can request through legal process. That trace, plus your filing, is what law enforcement and exchanges act on.
Not sure yet if it's a scam?
Paste the message, wallet address, or offer into our free check. You'll get a plain-English read in seconds — private, no account.
Run the free check →Why speed matters so much
On public blockchains, every transaction is permanent and visible — which is exactly why tracing works. But the operators know that too. They move funds through intermediate wallets within minutes and cash out at an exchange before a victim has even finished processing what happened. The window to freeze funds at an exchange or with a stablecoin issuer is measured in days, not weeks. Documented early, a case has options. Documented late, fewer options remain.
What a real investigation can and can't do
A legitimate forensic investigation traces the funds, identifies the exchange and freeze targets, and organizes the evidenceage that law enforcement and exchanges need. What it cannot do is promise your money back. Recovery, when it happens, runs through courts, exchange compliance, and law enforcement — not a technical trick. That's the honest line, and it's the line every credible firm holds.
Frequently asked
Can I get my crypto back after a scam?
Sometimes — but never by a technical trick and never guaranteed. Recovery happens through courts, exchange freezes, and law enforcement, all of which depend on fast, well-documented evidence. Acting in the first hours and filing an IC3 report materially improves the odds.
Should I pay a company that promises to recover my crypto?
No. Any service that guarantees recovery, or asks for an upfront fee to "release" your funds, is a recovery scam — a second fraud aimed at people who were already victimized. Legitimate analysts charge a fixed fee agreed in advance. Be wary of upfront "release" fees.
What should I preserve?
Screenshots of every message and the site, the exact wallet addresses, all transaction hashes, amounts and dates, and any documents they sent — before anything is deleted.
Where do I report it?
The FBI's IC3 (ic3.gov), the FTC (ReportFraud.ftc.gov), and flag the wallets on ChainAbuse (chainabuse.com).
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Blockchain Fraud is a service of UnyKorn LLC (Wyoming). This article is educational information and risk analysis, not legal advice, and does not guarantee the recovery of any funds. Be wary of any service that guarantees recovery or asks for an upfront "release" fee.