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If cryptocurrency was stolen in a suspected U.S. scam, stop sending money, preserve the evidence, and report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at IC3.gov. Submit what you have even if you do not know every transaction detail. An IC3 complaint is an investigative report, not a recovery claim or a promise that your assets will be returned. For an insurance claim, contact your insurer and check the wording and deadlines in your actual policy; the federal guidance cited here does not establish that a policy covers cryptocurrency losses.
How to report stolen cryptocurrency
These steps reflect U.S. federal guidance from the FBI, IC3, and the CFTC. Reporting routes and insurance rules can differ outside the United States.
- Stop paying the suspected scammer. Do not send more cryptocurrency or other money to unlock, release, or recover funds. Treat demands for additional taxes, release charges, or recovery fees as warning signs.
- Preserve records. Before deleting messages or closing accounts, save transaction details, communications, and a timeline. The evidence checklist below covers what to gather.
- Submit an IC3 complaint. Report suspected internet-enabled cryptocurrency fraud through IC3.gov. The FBI says to report even when transaction information is unavailable; provide as much relevant information as you can.
- Consider other relevant reports. Depending on the incident, make a report to local police and a relevant state or federal regulator. The CFTC advises reporting promptly and notes that complaints may be routed to an appropriate agency.
- Contact affected services through official channels. If funds passed through an exchange or service, or an account was compromised, contact its official support team, ask what information it needs, and keep the case number. An exchange may not be able to reverse an on-chain transfer.
- Secure accounts and payment methods. If an email account, device, identity, or financial account was compromised, secure any accounts you can still access and contact the relevant financial institutions. Never give a seed phrase, private key, password, or one-time code to someone offering help.
What information to include in an IC3 complaint
Give a clear account of how the contact started, what the other party claimed, what happened to the money, and when each event occurred. The FBI and IC3 list details such as the following as useful:
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- Transactions: date and time, time zone, cryptocurrency or other asset, amount, sending and receiving wallet addresses, receiving exchange or financial institution, and transaction ID or hash.
- Accounts and payments: relevant exchange, bank, and payment-service accounts, along with payment records.
- Communications and sequence: chat logs, emails and available email headers, messages, any two-factor authentication or one-time-passcode details involved, and a chronological timeline.
A transaction hash or ID identifies a blockchain transaction; a wallet address identifies a source or destination on a particular network. Their formats vary by network, so preserve each string exactly as shown and note the network rather than trying to standardize it. IC3 describes Bitcoin transaction hashes as 64-character hexadecimal strings and Ethereum transaction hashes as 64 characters; these examples do not apply to every asset or address format. See IC3’s cryptocurrency guidance and its August 24, 2023 guidance for cryptocurrency scam victims.
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Where to report a crypto scam
| Contact | When it may be relevant | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) | Suspected internet-enabled cryptocurrency fraud, including investment scams. | Submit the information for investigative and intelligence purposes. Report with incomplete transaction information rather than waiting for every detail. |
| Local police | When you want a local incident report or an insurer, bank, or other organization asks for one. | Ask how to obtain a copy or report number. The CFTC says a police report may be needed for an insurance claim, but that does not establish policy coverage. |
| Relevant state or federal regulator | When the facts involve conduct within that regulator’s remit, such as suspected commodity-related investment fraud. | The CFTC advises prompt reporting and says authorities may route a complaint to the appropriate agency. |
| Exchange or service provider | When funds went through a service, or an exchange, email, or other account may have been compromised. | Use the service’s official support route, provide requested details, and retain its case number. Do not assume it can reverse an on-chain transfer. |
For a compromised account or device, reporting to IC3 does not replace securing the accounts and financial services that remain accessible.
Does filing a report start a recovery claim?
No. An IC3 complaint shares information for investigative and intelligence purposes. It may help authorities connect reports or, in some cases, freeze stolen funds, but filing does not promise that an agency will contact you, investigate your individual case, or return assets.
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The FBI’s Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud guidance says an IC3 report is the first step for a case to be considered, while agents with Operation Level Up are not investigating individual victim cases. A report is still useful, but it should not be mistaken for a personal case assignment or a guaranteed recovery process.
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Can I file an insurance claim for stolen crypto?
You can ask your insurer whether a loss may be covered, but the guidance from the CFTC and FBI reviewed here does not establish that homeowner’s, renter’s, cyber, or identity policies cover cryptocurrency theft. Coverage depends on the actual policy and the facts of the loss.
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- Read the policy language and contact the insurer promptly if a claim may apply.
- Ask what documentation it requires and what deadlines apply; a local police report may be requested.
- Keep copies of submitted records, correspondence, and claim reference numbers.
The CFTC’s six steps to take after discovering fraud also recommend checking insurance and other recovery steps. If the loss concerns a government enforcement action with an appointed receiver or monitor, contact that receiver or monitor and submit accurate supporting documentation. For a substantial loss or possible civil action, consider getting legal advice; the available guidance does not establish whether litigation will succeed or be cost-effective in a particular case.
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People who have already lost money may be targeted again by purported tracing or recovery services. The FBI and IC3 identify unsolicited contact, guaranteed-recovery promises, claims of law-enforcement affiliation, upfront fees, and escalating demands for taxes, bonds, or release charges as warning signs.
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Private recovery companies cannot issue seizure orders. Exchanges may freeze accounts through their own internal processes or in response to legal process; a company’s claim that it can compel a seizure is not proof of authority. The FBI stated this in its September 3, 2024 notice on cryptocurrency recovery fraud. Do not pay a service merely because it claims special access to law enforcement, exchanges, or blockchain tracing, and report suspected recovery fraud separately to IC3.
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If someone claims to be from the FBI, the agency’s warning is: “The FBI will never ask for money, move communications to private messaging apps, or request bank account details or personal identifying information.” The FBI also cautions: “Be wary of anyone claiming they can recover your funds, as this may be another scam.” Both warnings appear in its Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud guidance.
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