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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIf you sent cryptocurrency to a supposed investment scheme, stop sending money, contact the exchange or crypto ATM operator you used, save the evidence, and report the fraud. A report or blockchain trace does not guarantee that you will recover your money, but acting promptly may help preserve records and give providers and authorities information to assess what happened. The reporting contacts below are for the United States.
What should you do first?
- Stop all payments. Do not pay alleged withdrawal taxes, verification charges, penalties, or requests for another deposit. The FBI describes schemes that show fictitious profits, pressure victims to invest more, then demand purported fees or taxes when they try to withdraw. It advises victims not to pay those charges or anyone claiming they can recover the funds. FBI IC3 guidance
- Contact the payment provider promptly. Call the exchange or crypto ATM operator you used. Tell it the payment was fraudulent and ask whether it can stop, reverse, or refund the transaction. If you first paid by bank transfer, card, wire, cash, or payment app, contact that provider too and ask what fraud steps are available. Do not assume a provider can reverse cryptocurrency already sent.
- Save records before they disappear. Keep transaction IDs, wallet addresses, provider records, messages, URLs, app details, screenshots, and a timeline. A checklist appears below.
- Report the fraud. In the U.S., submit reports to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The FBI also accepts reports through a local field office. The FTC’s crypto guidance lists the CFTC complaint channel as another reporting option. Save any confirmation or report number.
- Ignore unsolicited recovery offers. Do not send money, passwords, account details, identity documents, wallet credentials, or seed phrases to someone who contacts you claiming they can get your funds back.
Can you get the cryptocurrency back?
It is possible, but there is no reliable guarantee. The FTC says that after a cryptocurrency payment, you can usually get the money back only if the person you paid sends it back. Contacting a provider and filing reports are worthwhile, but neither a report nor a blockchain trace automatically returns funds. Cryptocurrency may have moved through overseas exchanges or multiple wallets, complicating an investigation.
An exchange or ATM operator can review its own account and transaction processes. Law enforcement can receive information and investigate, but a report is not a promise of recovery. The FBI says private recovery companies cannot issue seizure orders; exchanges freeze accounts through their own processes or in response to legal process. The FBI also identifies civil litigation as a possible avenue, but whether it is practical or successful depends on the facts of a particular case.
If you are considering legal action, independently verify a lawyer’s identity, bar status, relevant experience, and fee terms. The FBI has warned that fictitious law firms target people who have already lost money to crypto scams.
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What evidence should you gather?
Save what you have; do not delay filing a report because some details are missing. IC3 requests transaction information and context about how the fraud happened. Keep copies in a secure place and avoid altering original messages or files.
- Wallet addresses involved, transaction hash or ID, coin or token, amount, and date and time.
- Exchange, crypto ATM, bank, wire, or payment-app records, including account and recipient details.
- Website domains, app names, screenshots of balances or blocked withdrawals, and statements showing supposed profits.
- Messages, emails, social-media profiles, phone numbers, usernames, and names used by the people involved.
- A short timeline: how contact began, when you paid, when withdrawals failed, and what fees or taxes were demanded.
- Details of any recovery agent or law firm that contacted you, including its contact information and any money you paid.
How do you report it in the United States?
Federal Trade Commission
Submit a consumer fraud report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Include how you paid, the dates and amounts, and the contact or account information you have. FTC guidance on cryptocurrency payments is available at What to know about cryptocurrency and scams.
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FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
File at IC3.gov and include transaction identifiers plus relevant details such as websites, communication platforms, phone numbers, and how you met the person. The FBI says victims should report promptly and provide as much transaction information as possible. You can also contact a local FBI field office.
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The FTC’s cryptocurrency guidance also points consumers to the CFTC complaint channel. Include the same records and timeline where relevant.
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These are U.S. channels. If you are elsewhere, report the incident to your local consumer-protection and law-enforcement authorities. If you are in immediate danger, or have handed cash to a courier and feel threatened, contact local emergency services or law enforcement promptly.
How do recovery scams work?
People who have lost money may be targeted again by supposed recovery agents, tracing firms, lawyers, or government representatives. Warning signs include unsolicited contact, guaranteed results, upfront fees, demands for more money after a purported tracing report, and requests for personal or financial information. The FBI has reported that fraudulent recovery businesses have taken upfront fees and disappeared or demanded additional payments.
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Do not share a wallet’s seed phrase or private keys with anyone. A genuine government investigator does not charge victims a fee to investigate a crime. The FBI’s guidance explains that private firms cannot issue seizure orders and warns about recovery fraud. FBI IC3 recovery-scam alert
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How can you recognize the scheme and avoid another loss?
The FBI describes a common pattern: an unsolicited social-media, text, or dating-app contact builds trust, directs the victim to a fraudulent investment app or website, displays fake account growth, pressures the victim to deposit more, then blocks withdrawals and demands purported fees or taxes. A polished dashboard or balance is not proof that money is invested or withdrawable.
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A June 15, 2026 FBI warning describes another variation: scammers tell victims to obtain cash and hand it to couriers for a purported cryptocurrency investment, then demand more money as taxes or penalties when the victim tries to withdraw. Do not meet unknown couriers or hand over cash or valuables for an investment. If you already did and there is an immediate safety concern, contact local emergency services or law enforcement. FBI courier-scheme alert
Not every fraudulent crypto investment is technically a pyramid scheme. That label fits only when the facts establish a recruitment-and-payout structure; whatever the label, the immediate steps are to stop payments, preserve evidence, and report the suspected fraud.
What if you do not have transaction information?
File a report with the information you do have. Include the exchange or ATM used, approximate dates and amounts, wallet or recipient details visible in your records, messages, app or website names, and a timeline of events. Ask your exchange, bank, payment service, or ATM operator for copies of relevant records. IC3 encourages reports of suspicious activity and asks victims to provide available information; missing a transaction hash is not a reason to stay silent.
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