Lost money to a scam › Cryptocurrency
Paid a Scammer in Cryptocurrency? What to Do Now
Crypto payments usually cannot be reversed. You can usually get money back only if the person you paid sends it back. Report anyway, quickly and to the right places, and be very careful of anyone who offers to recover it for you.
What to do now
- Contact the exchange or crypto ATM companyTell them it was a fraudulent transaction and ask whether they can freeze or reverse it.
- Save the detailsThe wallet address you sent to, the transaction ID, the amount, the date, and screenshots of all messages.
- Report itFile reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov. For investment scams, also report to the CFTC at cftc.gov/complaint and the SEC at sec.gov/tcr.
- Being blackmailed?Report it to the FBI right away.
What to say when you call
"I sent [amount] in [coin] on [date] to wallet [address] after being tricked by a scammer. The transaction ID is [ID]. I want to report it as fraud and ask if it can be frozen."
Your rights
- Crypto does not have the legal protections of cards or bank transfers.
- No legitimate business or government agency demands payment in cryptocurrency.
If they say no
Anyone who contacts you offering to trace or recover your crypto for a fee is very likely running a second scam. Read about recovery scams.
Paid another way too?
- Credit card
- Debit card or bank account
- Zelle or bank transfer
- Venmo, Cash App or PayPal
- Wire transfer
- Gift cards
- Cash by mail or courier
- All steps
This page is general information, not legal or financial advice, and following it does not guarantee you will get your money back.