Scammed in crypto?
Here's exactly what to do β starting now.
It is not your fault. These scams are engineered by professionals. Acting in the first 24β72 hours gives you the best chance. This guide walks you through every step.
Stop all contact & payments
Send no more money "to unlock," "pay tax," or "release" funds. That's the trap deepening.
Secure your accounts
Change passwords, turn on strong 2FA, and move any remaining crypto to safety.
Preserve evidence
Screenshot everything and save transaction IDs before anything disappears.
Your personal action plan
Answer 4 quick questions. Everything stays in your browser β nothing is sent or saved.
This is general guidance, not legal or financial advice.
Where to report a crypto scam
File with your local police and the relevant national body. Reports help freeze funds, build cases, and warn others β even when recovery isn't possible.
Not listed? Search "[your country] report fraud" or "financial regulator," and always report the scam wallet address on Chainabuse.
In-depth scam guides
Plain-language guides to the most common crypto scams β how each one works, the warning signs, and what to do.
Pig butchering (romance investment)
A stranger earns your trust, then lures you into a fake crypto investment.
Read the guide βFake investment & trading platforms
Slick sites promising big, "guaranteed" returns.
Read the guide βFake exchange & wallet apps
Look-alike apps that steal logins, seed phrases, or deposits.
Read the guide βGiveaway & doubling scams
"Send 1 ETH, get 2 back" β impersonating celebrities or brands.
Read the guide βPhishing & account takeover
Fake emails and sites that capture your passwords and 2FA.
Read the guide βRug pulls
A project hypes up, takes the money, then vanishes.
Read the guide βTask & job scams
An "easy online job" that makes you deposit to get paid.
Read the guide βCloud mining scams
Fake "mining" with guaranteed returns you can't withdraw.
Read the guide βRecovery-service scams
The "we'll get your money back for a fee" second scam.
Read the warning ββ οΈ Beware the second scam: "recovery" services
After you're scammed, a wave of "recovery experts," "ethical hackers," and "asset recovery firms" will appear β often contacting you directly. The majority are scammers targeting victims a second time. The FBI, FTC, and European authorities have issued specific warnings about them.
Red flags β walk away if you see any of these:
- πΈ Asks for an upfront fee, "tax," or "deposit" before recovering anything.
- π Guarantees they'll get your money back, or shows "success" testimonials.
- π© Contacted you first on Telegram, WhatsApp, Instagram, or by email.
- π Asks for your seed phrase, private keys, passwords, or remote access.
- ποΈ Claims to be affiliated with a government agency or your exchange (they don't cold-DM victims).
Real recovery is rare and is done by law enforcement or licensed professionals you contact yourself β never by someone who messages you promising results for a fee.
Thinking of hiring someone to get your money back?
Read this first. Most "recovery services" are scams β but some cases do benefit from genuinely licensed professionals. We explain what legitimate help looks like, the free official routes to try first, and the strict criteria we use before listing anyone.
Find legitimate help βLock things down going forward
Whatever happened, these close the doors a scammer used. (Links marked "Partner" may earn us a small commission at no cost to you β it keeps this guide free.)
Hardware wallet
Keep crypto in self-custody offline so a hacked exchange or phishing site can't touch it.
Recommended option βPartnerPassword manager + 2FA
Unique passwords everywhere and app/hardware-key 2FA on email and exchanges.
Recommended option βPartnerIdentity & credit monitoring
If you shared ID documents, watch for identity theft and new accounts opened in your name.
Recommended option βPartnerDevice security
Run a reputable malware scan, especially if you installed any app or gave remote access.
Recommended option βPartnerYou're not alone
Being scammed is traumatic, and the shame is part of how these crimes work. Reaching out helps β both for your case and for you.
- β’ Talk to someone you trust; you did nothing wrong.
- β’ Connect with other victims in moderated communities (e.g. r/Scams).
- β’ If you're in crisis, contact a local mental-health helpline.
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