How to report a crypto scam in Nigeria
Act fast. Report the fraud to the EFCC and, if there's a hacking or account-takeover element, to the Police National Cybercrime Centre โ and tell your bank immediately to try to freeze the funds.
Report online โ the fastest step
Submit a written petition to the EFCC online. If the scam involved hacking, phishing or account takeover, also file with the Nigeria Police National Cybercrime Centre.
EFCC hotline: 0809 332 2644 (info@efcc.gov.ng). Police NCCC support: +234 708 848 9293.
Who to report to in Nigeria
- โขEFCC โ Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; the primary body for financial fraud. Submit a petition online; hotline 0809 332 2644.
- โขNigeria Police National Cybercrime Centre โ for hacking/phishing/account takeover (replaces the old incb.npf.gov.ng).
- โขSEC Nigeria โ securities regulator; publishes a "Known Investment Scams" list and lets you verify registered operators.
- โขNFIU โ publishes Ponzi and investment-scam advisories.
Check before you pay
Before you pay โ or pay any more โ check SEC Nigeria's Known Investment Scams list and use "Find a Registered Operator" to confirm whether an investment platform is actually registered. The SEC and NFIU regularly flag named Ponzi and crypto schemes.
SEC Nigeria โ Known Investment Scams โWhere to get help & support
- โขEFCC hotline 0809 332 2644 (info@efcc.gov.ng) โ primary body for financial-fraud victims.
- โขNFIU โ Ponzi and investment-scam advisories.
Do this right now
- โขStop all contact and send no more money โ including "fees" or "taxes" to withdraw.
- โขTell your bank immediately to try to freeze or flag the transfer.
- โขPreserve evidence: screenshots, wallet addresses, transaction hashes, the scam website or app.
- โขReport the scam wallet address on Chainabuse.
Nigeria-specific things to know
- โขContext: Nigeria saw a major crypto Ponzi (CBEX) collapse in 2025 with huge losses. Crypto Ponzi schemes are the dominant fraud type โ act fast.
- โขFirst step for investment fraud: submit the EFCC petition (efcc.gov.ng/SubmitPetition); if there's a cyber element (hacking/phishing), also file with the Police NCCC.
- โขVerify before you pay: use SEC Nigeria's "Find a Registered Operator" and the Known Investment Scams list.
- โขPetitions must be written, dated and signed to be actioned by the EFCC. Beware fake "EFCC recovery" pages and numbers โ only use efcc.gov.ng.
โ ๏ธ Beware "recovery" services. Anyone who contacts you promising to get your money back for an upfront fee is almost always a second scam. See the red flags โ
Get a copy-ready evidence summary
Answer 4 quick questions for a tailored checklist + a report template you can hand to each authority. Nothing is saved.
Start the action planโ All countries ยท Scam guides ยท Pig-butchering ยท Recovery scams