Reporting a Crypto Scam to Police and the FBI

Reporting a crypto scam can feel pointless when you are told the money may be gone. It is not pointless. Reports to the police and the FBI build the cases that take scam networks down, and they are often required before a bank or exchange will act. Here is how to report a crypto scam properly.

What to have ready

✗ Your timeline, one line per event
✗ A table of every payment with hashes and addresses
✗ Website addresses and app names
✗ Contact details used by the scammers
✗ Bank and exchange statements
✗ Screenshots and chat exports

Common questions

Will the FBI get my money back?

The FBI does not promise individual recoveries, but reports have led to seizures and returns to victims in some cases.

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Is it worth reporting a small loss?

Yes. Small reports help link wallets and stop networks.

Can I report if I am outside the US?

You can file with IC3 if a US link exists, but always report to your own national centre too.

Should I report a recovery scam separately?

Yes. It is a separate crime.

Not sure where to report?

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Report your case to AEDFIX and we will point you the right way.

Beware of fake police and FBI contacts

After you report, scammers may pretend to be FBI agents, police officers or regulators. They may say they found your money and need a fee to release it. Real law enforcement will never ask you to pay to recover funds. The FBI has publicly warned about this exact trick.

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After you report

Keep all reference numbers in one place. Update your report if new information appears, such as new messages or a new website used by the same group. Use your references when you contact your bank, your exchange and any case reviewer.

Do not let embarrassment stop you

Many people never report because they feel foolish. Investigators see thousands of cases and know how professional these scams are. Your report could be the piece that links a wallet, a phone number or a website to a much larger network, and that helps protect the next person.

Where to report by country

United States	The FBI FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and the FTC ReportFraud portal, plus local police
United Kingdom	Action Fraud, the national fraud reporting centre
Canada	The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and local police
Australia	Scamwatch and ReportCyber
Elsewhere	Your national police cybercrime or fraud unit

How to file with the FBI IC3

Go to ic3.gov and choose File a Complaint.
Enter your details and the subject details: names, websites, emails, phone numbers.
Add each transaction: date, amount, crypto type, wallet addresses and transaction hashes.
Describe what happened in a short, clear paragraph.
Submit and save the complaint ID and a copy of the form.

The IC3 does not always reply personally. Your complaint is analysed alongside others and passed to the right agencies. Keep your complaint ID, as banks and exchanges may ask for it.

Reporting to your local police

Some local police stations are more familiar with crypto than others. Bring a printed timeline, a list of transactions and your fraud centre reference. Ask for a crime or incident number before you leave. If the officer is unsure, ask whether there is a cybercrime or economic crime unit you can be referred to.

report a crypto scam: In a nutshell

Report even small losses.
The IC3 complaint ID helps with banks and exchanges.
Bring a printed timeline to the police.
Real police never charge a fee to return money.
Update your report with new information.

These points are a summary, not a full plan. Go back to the steps above and work through them one at a time, at your own pace. If you get stuck, file a free report and ask for help putting it together. You do not need to have every answer before you take the first step, and you never need to pay a stranger to start.