πŸ›‘οΈ We will never ask you to pay to recover your funds. Anyone who promises to get your crypto back for a fee is scamming you.
οΌ‹ Scam First Aid Start now
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Scammed in crypto?
Here's exactly what to do β€” starting now.

It is not your fault β€” these scams are run by professionals. Acting in the first 24–72 hours gives you the best chance. Answer the 4 quick questions below for your personal action plan. πŸ‘‡

Step 1 of 4 25%

This is general guidance, not legal or financial advice.

The 3 things that matter most, right now

βœ‹

Stop all contact & payments

Send no more money "to unlock," "pay tax," or "release" funds. That's the trap deepening.

πŸ”’

Secure your accounts

Change passwords, turn on strong 2FA, and move any remaining crypto to safety.

πŸ“Έ

Preserve evidence

Screenshot everything and save transaction IDs before anything disappears.

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.

Step-by-step reporting for your country β†’

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.

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Pig butchering (romance investment)

A stranger earns your trust, then lures you into a fake crypto investment.

Read the guide β†’
πŸ“ˆ

Fake investment & trading platforms

Slick sites promising big, "guaranteed" returns.

Read the guide β†’
πŸ“±

Fake exchange & wallet apps

Look-alike apps that steal logins, seed phrases, or deposits.

Read the guide β†’
🎁

Giveaway & doubling scams

"Send 1 ETH, get 2 back" β€” impersonating celebrities or brands.

Read the guide β†’
🎣

Phishing & account takeover

Fake emails and sites that capture your passwords and 2FA.

Read the guide β†’
πŸͺ€

Rug pulls

A project hypes up, takes the money, then vanishes.

Read the guide β†’
πŸ’Ό

Task & job scams

An "easy online job" that makes you deposit to get paid.

Read the guide β†’
⛏️

Cloud mining scams

Fake "mining" with guaranteed returns you can't withdraw.

Read the guide β†’
πŸ–ΌοΈ

NFT scams

Fake mints, drainer signatures, and counterfeit collections.

Read the guide β†’
🩸

Wallet drainer & approval scams

One malicious signature that empties your wallet.

Read the guide β†’
🀝

P2P & OTC trading scams

Fake or reversed payments on peer-to-peer trades.

Read the guide β†’
🏧

Bitcoin ATM scams

Pressured to feed cash into a crypto machine via a QR code.

Read the guide β†’
πŸ“΅

SIM swap attacks

Your number hijacked to steal SMS codes and drain accounts.

Read the guide β†’
⚠️

Recovery scams

The "we'll get your money back for a fee" second scam.

Read the guide β†’

⚠️ 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:

  • πŸ’Έ Asks for an upfront fee, "tax," or "deposit" before recovering anything.
  • πŸ“ˆ Guarantees they'll get your money back, or shows "success" testimonials.
  • πŸ“© Contacted you first on Telegram, WhatsApp, Instagram, or by email.
  • πŸ”‘ Asks for your seed phrase, private keys, passwords, or remote access.
  • πŸ›οΈ 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.

New Β· Out now

Never get scammed again β€” the Crypto Scam Survival Guide

A short, plain-English ebook that teaches you to spot every major scam and lock down your wallet and accounts. Instant download.

Get the guide β†’

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 β†’

Lock 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.)

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Hardware wallet

Keep crypto in self-custody offline so a hacked exchange or phishing site can't touch it.

Get a Ledger β†’Partner
πŸ—οΈ

Password manager + 2FA

Unique passwords everywhere and app/hardware-key 2FA on email and exchanges.

Recommended option β†’Partner
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Identity & credit monitoring

If you shared ID documents, watch for identity theft and new accounts opened in your name.

Recommended option β†’Partner
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Device security

Run a reputable malware scan, especially if you installed any app or gave remote access.

Recommended option β†’Partner

You'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.
β˜• Support this free resource

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