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If cryptocurrency has been stolen or sent to a scammer, act quickly: stop communicating with the suspected scammer, preserve the transaction and contact evidence, contact any exchange or crypto ATM operator involved through an independently verified channel, and report the incident. A completed crypto transfer generally cannot be undone, and no recovery service can guarantee your money back. If you have lost access to a wallet or account instead, that is a different problem with different steps.
First, identify what happened
The right next step depends on whether the crypto left your control, you lost access to it, or a platform is showing funds you cannot withdraw. Those situations should not be treated as interchangeable.
| Situation | What to do first |
|---|---|
| You sent crypto to a scammer, or someone transferred it without permission | Stop interacting with the suspected criminal, save the transaction and communications, contact any service involved, and report the fraud. |
| You cannot access your wallet or exchange account | Use the wallet provider’s or exchange’s independently verified official support channel. Do not give an unsolicited contact your recovery phrase, password, or one-time code. |
| An investment platform shows a balance but will not let you withdraw | Do not send more money to unlock the displayed balance. Preserve the platform’s messages and payment details, then report the suspected fraud. |
The guidance and reporting routes below focus on the United States. Reporting options and legal remedies may differ elsewhere.
What to do after a suspicious transfer
1. Stop sending money and end contact
Do not pay additional “taxes,” fees, or deposits to release supposedly trapped investment funds. The FBI advises victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud to stop sending money and report the activity. If the FBI is investigating, do not alert suspected criminals to that investigation; doing so could compromise it. FBI guidance on cryptocurrency investment fraud.
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2. Secure the way you communicate
If someone messages or calls claiming your exchange account is in danger, do not click their link, call their number, or follow instructions in the message. End the interaction and find the exchange’s official website or phone number independently. Do not disclose login details or one-time passcodes to someone who asks for them. The FBI’s August 1, 2024 warning about exchange impersonation scams describes this tactic.
3. Preserve the details before they disappear
Make a record of what happened and save original messages, emails, screenshots, receipts, and account notices. Include as many of these details as you have:
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- The cryptocurrency addresses involved, the asset and amount, the transaction date and time, and the transaction hash or ID.
- The exchange, wallet service, crypto ATM operator, bank, or other payment service involved.
- Names, usernames, phone numbers, email addresses, websites, app names, and payment details connected to the contact or transaction.
- A short timeline: when contact began, what you were told, what you sent, and what happened afterward.
If you cannot find a transaction hash or do not have every detail, report what you know anyway. IC3 and FBI guidance say victims should submit a report even when transaction information is incomplete. FBI/IC3 guidance for cryptocurrency scam victims, August 24, 2023.
4. Contact any exchange or crypto ATM operator involved
Use a verified official support channel and explain that the transfer was fraudulent. Ask whether the operator can take any action. The FTC recommends asking the company involved in a cryptocurrency payment to reverse and refund it, but a completed crypto transfer may not be reversible. An exchange’s ability to restrict funds depends on its own processes and, in some cases, legal process; contacting support is not a promise that funds can be frozen or returned. FTC guidance on what to do after a scam.
Can you get cryptocurrency back after a transfer?
Usually, there is no ordinary chargeback or technical “undo” for a completed cryptocurrency transfer. Report it quickly and contact any service involved, but do not assume that tracing the transaction means the recipient is identified or that the funds can be frozen or returned. IC3 notes that public blockchain records can help investigators trace transactions, while overseas transfers can create significant law-enforcement challenges. IC3’s cryptocurrency guidance.
There is no general recovery procedure that guarantees a victim’s funds will be returned. Law enforcement may investigate, and authorities or service providers may be able to take action in some circumstances, but the sources cited here do not establish a guaranteed path to recovery. In 2023, the FBI’s IC3 reported that victims reported more than $2.5 billion in cryptocurrency investment fraud losses in 2022. That figure covers reported investment-fraud losses, not all crypto crime and not money known to be recoverable. FBI/IC3 advisory, August 11, 2023.
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How to report a crypto scam in the United States
- File a complaint with IC3. Submit the transaction details and relevant communications you have. If some details are missing, file anyway. The FBI/IC3 says: “If you do not have transaction information, please still submit a report to the FBI IC3 and provide as much information as you have.” FBI/IC3 guidance, August 24, 2023.
- Report the scam to the FTC. Use ReportFraud.ftc.gov and keep a copy of your report for your records.
- Contact your local FBI field office where appropriate. The FBI’s victim guidance identifies this as another reporting route for cryptocurrency investment fraud. FBI cryptocurrency investment fraud guidance.
If you lost access to a wallet or account
Losing access is not the same as sending crypto to a scammer: there may not have been a transfer at all. The safe next step depends on the exact wallet, exchange, or device, and there is no single recovery process that applies to every product. Find the provider’s official support documentation or contact its verified support channel yourself.
Never give a seed phrase, private key, password, or one-time passcode to an unsolicited contact, including someone claiming to be support. Do not enter recovery information into a link sent by a stranger. The sources cited here do not establish provider-specific steps for restoring a self-custody wallet, exchange account, or compromised device, so do not rely on a stranger to improvise them for you.
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How to recognize a fake crypto recovery service
Be suspicious of unsolicited offers to trace or recover crypto, especially when the contact demands an upfront fee, promises a guaranteed result, or claims government or legal connections. The FBI says private recovery companies cannot issue seizure orders to recover cryptocurrency, and law enforcement does not charge victims to investigate crimes. FBI/IC3 advisory on companies falsely claiming they can recover funds, August 11, 2023.
Some recovery fraudsters use tracing reports—sometimes incomplete or inaccurate—to persuade victims to pay more. Others impersonate law enforcement, exchanges, government agencies, or legal services. Do not send money or personal or financial information to an unknown recovery contact. The FBI/IC3 reported more than $9.9 million in losses by cryptocurrency scam victims further exploited by fictitious law firms between February 2023 and February 2024. That figure concerns reported losses from that particular type of follow-on fraud, not every recovery scam. FBI/IC3 advisory on fictitious law firms, June 24, 2024.
Getting independent legal advice is different
You may choose to seek advice from a lawyer about possible civil litigation, but a lawsuit is not a guaranteed way to recover crypto. If you consider legal advice, verify the lawyer’s license and jurisdiction independently; do not trust an unsolicited recovery offer or a promise of a specific result. The FBI discusses civil litigation as a possible avenue while warning about fictitious law firms targeting victims. FBI/IC3 advisory, June 24, 2024.
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