First hour
- Stop all further payments. Do NOT pay any 'release fee' or 'tax'
- Screenshot every conversation, transaction, profile, URL
- Move remaining funds from any compromised wallet to a fresh one (new seed)
- Change passwords on email and any linked accounts — from a clean device
Same day
- Report at /report — it helps protect the next person
- File with your local cybercrime unit (US: IC3.gov, UK: ActionFraud, EU: national police cyber unit)
- Notify your bank if any card or transfer was involved
- Tell ONE person you trust. Shame is the scammer's last weapon
What WILL NOT work
'Recovery hackers' that DM you on Telegram/Instagram are a second scam targeting victims of the first. Block them.
No one can magically reverse a crypto transaction. Law enforcement traces are slow and partial.
