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If you suspect a crypto investment scam, stop sending money, preserve the records you already have, and file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). You can report even if you have not lost money. IC3 does not accept evidence attachments, investigate cases itself, or promise recovery, so keep your originals and save a copy of your complaint before leaving the submission page. This guide covers U.S. reporting routes; local and state procedures vary.
How do I report crypto investment fraud?
- Stop payments and preserve records. Do not send more crypto or money to unlock a withdrawal, pay supposed taxes, or cover a fee. Keep existing messages, receipts, account records, and transaction details.
- File a complaint with the FBI’s IC3. Include a clear timeline and the identifiers, payment details, and communication channels you know. The FBI encourages reports about cryptocurrency scams even when no financial loss occurred. See the IC3 cryptocurrency guidance.
- Consider the SEC if the facts involve an investment, account, financial professional, or possible securities misconduct. The SEC offers a Division of Enforcement tip, complaint, or referral route; this is an additional option, not a universal route for every crypto scam.
- Contact local police or emergency services when urgency requires it. For immediate danger, call 911 or local police. IC3 advises contacting local law enforcement directly for time-sensitive matters.
These routes serve different purposes; filing with one does not mean another is unnecessary. For the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Assistance, questions or complaints about investments, accounts, or a financial professional can be directed to 1-800-732-0330 or help@sec.gov. Its Crypto Points of Contact page was last reviewed or updated July 15, 2026.
What information do I need to report a crypto scam to the FBI?
Start with what you can document; do not delay a report because some details are missing. The FBI’s cryptocurrency reporting guidance highlights wallet addresses, cryptocurrency type and amount, transaction hashes, and transaction dates and times. IC3’s complaint FAQ also asks for account and transaction information, who received money, total loss, names and contact details, website and IP information where known, a narrative, and email headers when available.
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- Crypto asset type, amount, sending and receiving addresses, transaction hash, date and time, and any relevant exchange or wallet records.
- Bank, wire, card, or cash payment records and recipient details, if those were used.
- Names and aliases; phone numbers; email addresses; account handles; profile links; website domains; and app names connected with the suspected scam.
- A dated timeline of how contact began, investment instructions, deposits, displayed returns, withdrawal attempts, and requests for additional payments.
- Original emails, preferably with full headers; texts and chat transcripts; screenshots; relevant web pages; receipts; and phone records.
- Details of any later recovery offer, including the claimed affiliation, promises, requested fee, and the contact’s identifying information.
The FBI’s 2026 courier-scam alert also names websites, apps, email addresses, phone numbers, profile names, relevant bank accounts and recipient names, and screenshots or app information when available. This checklist combines examples from FBI and IC3 guidance; it is not a requirement to supply every item in every case.
Should I upload evidence to IC3?
No. IC3 does not accept attachments or collect evidence through the complaint form. Put relevant facts or text into the form where appropriate—for example, IC3 says email headers can be pasted—but keep the underlying records securely in case an agency requests them.
IC3 lists examples of useful records including cryptocurrency and wire receipts, canceled checks and card receipts, electronic emails with complete headers, web pages, hard drive images, network logs, chat transcripts, and phone records. Keep original files intact where feasible and make a separate working copy if you need to sort or annotate material; avoid altering the only copy.
What should I save after filing an IC3 complaint?
Save or print the complaint and confirmation before closing the page or navigating away. IC3 says it will not email or otherwise send an electronic copy afterward, and that the submission page is the only opportunity to retain one. The IC3 FAQ instructs complainants: “Please save or print a copy of your report before closing this window or navigating away from this page.”
What happens after I file?
IC3 analysts review complaints and may disseminate information to law enforcement or partner agencies as appropriate. IC3 does not conduct investigations itself and cannot provide investigation status; receiving agencies decide whether to investigate or prosecute. A complaint cannot be canceled. If you need to add information, IC3 says to submit a new complaint and explain that it supplements the earlier one.
Do not treat filing as a promise of a personal response, case update, or action by a particular agency. If the situation is time-sensitive, contact local law enforcement directly; for immediate danger, call 911 or local police.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can I get my crypto back, and should I pay a recovery service?
A report is not a way to reverse a blockchain transaction, and recovery is not guaranteed. Be especially wary of unsolicited recovery businesses or people who promise to retrieve funds for an upfront fee. The FBI warns that such operators may disappear after taking payment, demand more money after incomplete or inaccurate tracing, or falsely claim law-enforcement or legal ties.
The FBI says private recovery companies cannot issue seizure orders. Exchanges may freeze accounts through their own internal processes or legal process, and victims may pursue civil litigation; neither point guarantees funds will be recovered. Law enforcement does not charge victims to investigate. Do not pay a fee based on a promise of guaranteed recovery, and include recovery solicitations in your report.
How widespread is reported crypto investment fraud?
The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center recorded 61,559 cryptocurrency investment-fraud complaints and $7.228 billion in reported losses in 2025, according to its 2025 IC3 Annual Report. These figures describe complaints received, not every real-world incident, and they do not predict whether any individual victim will recover funds.
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