Lost crypto to a scam? Do these things first, in this order.

1. 01

   Stop sending money

   Scammers often ask for a “fee”, “tax” or “deposit” before you can withdraw. No real platform works this way. Do not send anything more, whatever they promise.

2. 02

   Save the evidence

   Keep the transaction IDs (hashes), the wallet and deposit addresses you sent to, the website or app address, the scammer’s usernames and phone numbers, screenshots of the chats and your balance, and your bank or exchange statements. Do not delete the chats or the app.

3. 03

   Secure your accounts

   Change your passwords and turn on two-factor authentication for your email, exchange and wallet. Remove any remote-access app (such as AnyDesk or TeamViewer) you installed at someone’s request. If you connected your wallet to the scam site, move what is left to a new wallet.

4. 04

   Report it

   In the US, file with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Elsewhere, report to your local police or national fraud-reporting agency. Keep every report number.

5. 05

   Watch for recovery scams

   Victims are often targeted a second time by people who promise to get the money back. Anyone who contacts you out of the blue, says they have already recovered your funds, offers to “hack” the scammer, or guarantees recovery is running a scam. Real recovery is a complex process that needs cooperation from law enforcement, attorneys and the courts, exchanges and other crypto services, banks, and expert investigators like us. We walk you through every step, and we only contact you from addresses ending in @cipherblade.com.

6. 06

   Have the funds traced

   A blockchain investigation shows where the money went and which exchanges received it. That evidence is what law enforcement, attorneys and exchanges need before they can act. Tracing is one part: our analysis is backed by qualified experts who testify in court, with a proven track record and a professional network built over a decade.