How to report a crypto scam

The 10-step crypto-scam reporting checklist

1. 1

   Stop sending — and don't pay the 'unlock fee'

   The withdrawal-blocked / pay-tax-to-release pattern is the scam itself. No legitimate exchange asks for a personal tax payment to release your funds. Anything you send now is also lost.

2. 2

   Capture all on-chain evidence

   Record every wallet address you sent to, every transaction hash, the dates/times, the asset (BTC, ETH, USDT-TRC20, etc.), and the USD value at the time. Screenshot the receiving exchange's deposit page if shown.

3. 3

   Report to GACS

   Submit at /report with the scam URL, wallet addresses, and platform name. The entry is public within minutes so the website checker and wallet checker flag it for the next person.

4. 4

   Report to the FBI IC3

   File at ic3.gov. Include every tx hash and wallet. The FBI's Virtual Asset Unit works with chain analytics firms (Chainalysis, TRM) and can issue seizure warrants when funds land at compliant exchanges. Speed matters — most freezeable funds move within 72 hours.

5. 5

   Report to the FTC

   File at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Pick 'Investment / cryptocurrency scam'. The data feeds the Consumer Sentinel Network and informs FTC enforcement actions and state attorneys general.

6. 6

   Report to the receiving exchange

   Look up the receiving wallet at oxt.me / etherscan.io / tronscan.org. If it resolves to a compliant exchange (Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, OKX, KuCoin, Bybit, etc.), email their fraud / legal contact: lawenforcement@binance.com, legal@coinbase.com, lawenforcement@kraken.com, le@okx.com, legal@kucoin.com, legal@bybit.com. Include the tx hash, the destination wallet, and your IC3 complaint number.

7. 7

   Report to Tether / Circle if USDT or USDC is involved

   USDT freezes: email lawenforcement@tether.io with tx hashes and the destination wallet. USDC freezes: report at support.circle.com / compliance@circle.com. Both issuers regularly freeze funds tied to active law-enforcement complaints — IC3 complaint number speeds the process.

8. 8

   Report to chain analytics firms

   Chainalysis (chainabuse.com) and TRM Labs both maintain public scam-tagging databases that exchanges and on-ramps query. Tagging the destination wallet makes it harder to cash out the stolen funds.

9. 9

   Talk to your bank / card issuer if a fiat ramp was used

   If you funded the scam via card or wire to a regulated on-ramp (Coinbase, Kraken, MoonPay, Banxa), call your bank within 48 hours and file a dispute. Card chargebacks are often available within 60–120 days; wires can sometimes be recalled inside the first 24 hours.

10. 10

    Avoid 'recovery agents' — they are a second scam

    There is no legitimate service that guarantees crypto recovery for an upfront fee. Anyone DMing you on Telegram, X, or Reddit offering to recover funds is running the recovery-scam playbook on top of the original loss. Only law enforcement and licensed exchanges can freeze funds.

Free copy-paste reporting templates

Reports written in plain English with concrete evidence get actioned faster than walls of text. Copy a template, swap in the details, and paste.

Subject: Stolen funds freeze request — IC3 #[your IC3 number] — destination wallet [address]

Hello,

I am the victim of a cryptocurrency fraud (FBI IC3 complaint #[number] filed [date]). Stolen funds were sent from my wallet [your address] to the destination wallet [destination address], which on-chain analysis indicates is controlled by your exchange.

Transaction details:
- Tx hash: [hash]
- Asset: [BTC / ETH / USDT-TRC20 / etc.]
- Amount: [crypto amount] ([USD value at time])
- Date / time: [UTC]

Requesting a hold on the receiving account pending law-enforcement contact. Happy to provide additional documentation or to have FBI IC3 contact you directly.

Thanks,
[Your full legal name]
[Phone number]
[Email]

Subject: USDT freeze request — destination wallet [address] — IC3 #[number]

Hello Tether Compliance,

Reporting stolen USDT linked to FBI IC3 complaint #[number] (filed [date]).

- Sending wallet: [address]
- Receiving wallet: [address]
- Chain: [Tron / Ethereum / Solana / etc.]
- Tx hashes: [list]
- Amount: [USDT amount]
- Date / time: [UTC]

Requesting a freeze on the receiving address. Documentation and IC3 complaint number available on request.

Thanks,
[Your name]

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