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RECOVERY

I sent cryptocurrency to a scammer — what do I do now?

Cryptocurrency transactions are typically irreversible once confirmed on the blockchain — this is one of the reasons scammers prefer it. Recovery is very unlikely. But there are still important steps to take right now: report to your exchange, preserve evidence, and report to the authorities.

In an active crisis?

  • Call your bank
  • Call the platform (Amazon, PayPal, MobilePay, etc.)
  • Call local police

Important — watch out for a second scam: Be very careful of anyone who contacts you promising to recover your cryptocurrency — especially for an upfront fee. No legitimate company or government agency guarantees recovery of crypto sent to a scammer. "Crypto recovery" services that charge fees are almost always a second scam targeting people who have already lost money. Never pay a fee to recover money, and never give your wallet details or seed phrase to anyone claiming to help you recover funds.

The honest answer: crypto transactions are usually irreversible

Once a cryptocurrency transaction is confirmed on the blockchain, it cannot be reversed by your exchange, by law enforcement, or by anyone else. This is by design — it is a fundamental property of how most blockchains work. You may not be able to recover the money. However, the steps below give you the best possible chance and create the records needed if law enforcement is able to act.

Step 1 — Report to your exchange immediately

Do this now: Contact the exchange or platform you used to send the cryptocurrency and report the transaction as fraud. Provide the transaction ID, the wallet address you sent to, and the date and amount. Some exchanges have compliance teams that work with law enforcement and may be able to flag or freeze the destination wallet if it is on their platform.

Use the official support channel on your exchange's website — not a number or email from a search result or from the scammer.

Step 2 — Preserve all evidence

Do this now: Screenshot and save everything — the transaction ID and hash, the wallet address you sent to, all communications with the scammer (messages, emails, social media profiles), and any website or platform they used. Do not delete anything. This evidence is essential for any law enforcement investigation.

The wallet address the scammer used is a key piece of evidence. Law enforcement and blockchain analytics firms can sometimes trace funds across the blockchain, particularly if the scammer attempts to convert crypto to fiat currency at a regulated exchange.

Step 3 — Report to the authorities

Report the scam to the authorities. Cryptocurrency fraud reports are taken seriously by law enforcement, and your report may contribute to a larger investigation.

Important: Never share your wallet seed phrase or private keys with anyone — including people claiming to be from law enforcement, your exchange, or a recovery service. Anyone who asks for your seed phrase is attempting to steal your remaining funds.

You've taken the right steps: You have reported to your exchange, preserved the evidence, and reported to the authorities. You have done what you can. This is not your fault.

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This page was last reviewed: June 27, 2026.
Recovery pages are drafted with AI assistance, then reviewed line-by-line by the editor, sourced against official reporting authorities, and tested for tone and clarity before publication.