Help & reporting
Report a cryptocurrency scam and get structured case support
Cryptocurrency scams move quickly and the transactions are public but irreversible. Acting in the first hours matters: the evidence you keep now determines what any exchange, bank, regulator or investigator can realistically do later.
What this kind of scam is
- A crypto scam persuades you to send coins or money to a wallet, 'managed account' or trading platform controlled by the operator.
- The balance you see on the dashboard is a display the operator controls. It does not represent funds held for you.
- Withdrawals are eventually blocked, or made conditional on fees, taxes, verification payments or 'liquidity' top-ups.
Common warning signs
- Contact began on social media, a dating app or a messaging group rather than from a firm you approached.
- A small first deposit was allowed to be withdrawn to build confidence.
- You were coached through installing an app or using a website that is not the exchange's official one.
- Returns are described as fixed, guaranteed or unusually consistent.
- You are asked to pay a fee before releasing a withdrawal.
- There is pressure to act now, keep it private, or borrow to increase your position.
Steps to consider now
- 1
Stop sending funds
Any further payment, including 'release fees' and 'taxes', almost always increases the loss.
- 2
Record the wallet addresses and transaction hashes
Copy them exactly. They are the backbone of any later tracing or exchange enquiry.
- 3
Secure your accounts
Revoke wallet approvals, change passwords, enable two-factor authentication and remove any remote-access software you were asked to install.
- 4
Notify your bank or exchange
If you funded the transfer from a bank or a regulated exchange, report it to them in writing as soon as possible.
- 5
Open a ScamGuide case
Submit a report so the details, timeline and evidence are documented in one structured place.
Evidence worth preserving
- Screenshots of every conversation, including profile names, handles and the dates shown.
- Payment records: bank transfer confirmations, card statements, invoices or receipts.
- Cryptocurrency transaction hashes and the destination wallet addresses.
- The website address, app name and any download links you were sent.
- Emails with full headers where possible, plus any documents or contracts you received.
- A short written timeline of what happened and when, made while it is still fresh.
How ScamGuide works
- 1. You submit a structured report through a guided wizard — no legal or technical knowledge needed.
- 2. A private case is created with a reference number, timeline and secure evidence vault.
- 3. A case specialist reviews the details and communicates with you in an encrypted, private thread.
- 4. You explore the recovery and reporting options that realistically apply to your circumstances.
- 5. A sanitised, moderated summary may be published so other people can search it. You are never named.
Frequently asked questions
Sometimes funds can be traced and, where they reach a regulated exchange, frozen through the correct process — but outcomes depend entirely on the circumstances of each case and nothing can be promised in advance.
Ready to document what happened?
Reporting is free and takes a few minutes. You can search existing reports first — try a wallet address, platform or trading app name.