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If someone unexpectedly says your crypto account is compromised, under investigation, or at risk, stop and verify independently. Do not disclose a password, one-time code, or seed phrase, give a stranger wallet access, or transfer cryptocurrency to an address described as “safe.” Hang up or end the chat, then contact the exchange or agency through contact details you find independently.
This guidance focuses on U.S. reporting and service rules. A suspicious message or an unexpected transfer does not, by itself, establish that a wallet holder knowingly took part in laundering.
How do crypto wallet impersonation scams work?
Scammers pose as exchange staff, wallet support, government officials, law enforcement, businesses, or other trusted parties. They may claim an account has been compromised, accuse someone of a crime, or say an investigation requires immediate action. Their goal is to make you hand over access or send funds before you can check the story. The FBI has documented exchange impersonation, fake support, and government impersonation schemes.
Fake exchange or wallet support
An unexpected call, text, email, or social message may claim there is a problem with your account. The person may ask for login information, tell you to click a link, or offer to help by taking control of your device or wallet. In wallet-support scams, the supposed helper may direct you to move funds to another wallet for “safekeeping.” That can give the scammer control of the money. The FBI also warns that search results for support can lead to fictitious support sites, so do not assume a result or advertisement is genuine.
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See the FBI’s guidance on exchange impersonation and cryptocurrency support fraud.
Seed-phrase phishing and fake rewards
A message promising free tokens or an NFT may include a link to a site that asks you to connect a wallet or enter security information. The FBI describes phishing links distributed through wallet memos, social media, third-party sites, and email. A seed phrase is typically a 12-to-24-word string that can serve as the key to your crypto. Never enter it on a site reached through an unsolicited offer.
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Read the FBI’s alert on airdrop phishing.
Government or law-enforcement impersonation
A caller or texter may claim you are linked to a crime, threaten arrest, or demand secrecy and immediate payment. The contact details may be spoofed, and the caller may keep you on the phone while directing you to withdraw cash or buy cryptocurrency. The FBI states: “Law enforcement and government authorities will never contact members of the public by telephone or text message to demand any form of payment or to request personal or sensitive information.”
The FBI reported nearly 61,000 complaints and more than $1.6 billion in losses between January 2025 and July 2026 involving law-enforcement or government impersonation. Those figures refer to that specific category of complaints, not all cryptocurrency scams. See the September 17, 2026 FBI/IC3 alert.
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“Move your money to protect it” demands
A scammer may keep you alarmed and isolated, tell you to withdraw cash and buy crypto, then send a QR code that routes the payment to the scammer’s wallet. A supposed government wallet or Bitcoin account for safekeeping is not real. A QR code is simply a way to specify a payment destination; it does not make a transfer safe. The FTC warns that “Only scammers demand payment in cryptocurrency.” See its Bitcoin ATM scam guidance and cryptocurrency scam advice.
What should you do if someone says your crypto account is compromised?
- End the contact. Hang up or stop replying. Do not stay on the line while withdrawing cash, buying crypto, changing wallet settings, or sending funds.
- Keep control of your wallet and accounts. Do not share passwords, seed phrases, or one-time codes. Do not install software, grant remote access, or let a stranger control your device or wallet.
- Do not use the message’s links or QR codes. Avoid unsolicited links, attachments, and payment codes. Find the exchange’s official website or support number independently, such as through a trusted statement or a known official channel.
- Check the claim independently. If an exchange account might genuinely be compromised, contact the exchange through its independently located official support channel. If someone claims to represent a government agency, use that agency’s public contact information—not details supplied by the caller.
- Refuse crypto payment or transfer demands. Do not pay a supposed government fee, fine, account-unfreezing charge, or recovery fee in crypto. The FTC’s guidance is direct: “Only scammers demand payment in cryptocurrency.”
For its recommended response to exchange impersonation, the FBI advises ending the call and independently contacting the exchange through its official number or website. For government impersonation, the FBI advises using public agency contact information to verify the claim.
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How can you reduce the risk of laundering-related service problems?
Impersonation scams and service-compliance risks are different issues. In a U.S. alert dated April 25, 2024, the FBI warned consumers about cryptocurrency money-transmitting services that fail to register as Money Services Businesses where required or do not follow applicable anti-money-laundering requirements. Law-enforcement action against a service can disrupt access, particularly when customer crypto is intermingled with illicit funds.
When choosing a service that transmits cryptocurrency, take care with services whose registration or compliance status is unclear. This is a service-selection consideration, not evidence that any particular wallet address is criminal or that a user is legally responsible merely for receiving a transfer. The FBI alert concerns money-transmitting services; it is not a blanket warning about every self-custody wallet. See the FBI/IC3 alert on cryptocurrency money-transmitting services.
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What should you do if you sent crypto or exposed wallet access?
- Stop communicating with the suspected scammer. Do not follow new instructions or pay someone who promises to recover the funds.
- Preserve evidence. Save messages and record transaction details, including the transaction hash, wallet addresses, amount, asset type, and date and time. Keep phone numbers, email addresses, websites, and social profiles involved in the contact.
- Contact relevant institutions promptly. If linked bank accounts, cards, or exchange accounts may also be exposed, notify the relevant financial institutions or service providers through their official channels.
- Report the incident in the United States. Submit a report to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and contact local law enforcement. The FBI’s victim guidance and its government-impersonation alert discuss reporting and recovery-scam risks.
Be wary of recovery services that promise to retrieve cryptocurrency, especially if they demand an upfront payment or claim special access. Someone who contacts you after a loss may be trying to exploit you again.
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