How to Report a Crypto Scam: Agencies and Steps

Reporting a crypto scam means filing a documented complaint with the relevant government agency, exchange, or platform based on where the scam occurred and where you're located, ideally within days of discovering the loss, since faster reporting improves the (still limited) odds that funds passing through a centralized exchange can be flagged or frozen.

Reporting rarely results in getting your money back directly, but it serves real purposes beyond personal recovery: it helps agencies track scam patterns, can support law enforcement action against repeat offenders, and creates a paper trail that may matter for tax-loss documentation or, in rare cases, a class action or restitution process.

Where to report, depending on your location

United States

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — accepts general consumer fraud reports, including crypto scams, through its official reporting portal
• FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) — the primary federal channel for internet-enabled fraud, including crypto theft and investment scams
• Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) — relevant if the scam involved crypto derivatives, futures, or was framed as a regulated trading product
• Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) — relevant if the scam involved something structured or marketed like a security, such as certain token sales
• State Attorney General's office — many states have dedicated consumer protection divisions that accept fraud complaints

Other jurisdictions

Most countries have an equivalent national cybercrime or consumer-fraud reporting body — for example, Action Fraud in the UK, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre in Canada, and similar agencies elsewhere. Local police cybercrime units are also generally worth filing a report with, even if their capacity to investigate crypto-specific cases varies.

What to prepare before filing a report

Documentation quality significantly affects whether a report is actionable. Before filing, gather:

• Wallet addresses involved, both yours and, if known, the scammer's
• Transaction hashes for every relevant transfer, which can be looked up on a block explorer
• Screenshots of all communications with the scammer, including usernames, profile links, and timestamps
• The platform, app, or website used, including URLs and any account names involved
• A timeline of events from first contact to the point funds were lost
• Any exchange or platform account details if funds were sent to or through a centralized exchange

Reporting for tax purposes as well as fraud purposes

In several jurisdictions, losses from theft or scams may be treated differently than ordinary investment losses for tax purposes, and having a documented, timely report filed with a government agency can serve as supporting evidence if you later pursue any deduction or loss claim. This is a separate consideration from fund recovery and worth understanding independently, since tax treatment of crypto losses varies significantly by country and can change with new guidance. Our broader crypto taxes guide covers general reporting obligations, though you should consult a qualified tax professional for guidance specific to a theft or scam loss in your jurisdiction.

Reporting to the exchange or platform involved

If any part of the scam routed funds through a centralized exchange — even just as an intermediate stop — report it directly to that exchange's compliance or fraud team as well as to a government agency. Exchanges can sometimes freeze funds sitting in an account under investigation, which is one of the very few scenarios where reported crypto is actually recoverable. This is far more likely to matter in fast reporting; funds that have already been withdrawn, converted, or moved through a mixer are much harder to act on.

Setting realistic expectations

Report destination	What it can realistically achieve
Government fraud agency (FTC, IC3, etc.)	Pattern tracking, potential future law enforcement action; rarely direct fund recovery
Exchange compliance team	Possible fund freeze if funds remain on that platform
Local police	Formal report for insurance/tax documentation; investigation capacity varies widely
Blockchain forensics firms	Tracing assistance, often used to support law enforcement cases rather than independent recovery

Our related guide on whether stolen crypto can be recovered sets out realistic odds in more detail, and how to track stolen funds on-chain explains the tracing process reports may draw on.

Watch out for recovery scams after reporting

Once a scam report becomes visible in any way — including simply posting publicly about being victimized — you may be approached by people offering paid "recovery" services claiming they can retrieve your funds for an upfront fee. This is an extremely common secondary scam that specifically targets people who have already lost money once. See our guide on crypto recovery scams to avoid before engaging with anyone offering this kind of help.

Bottom line

Reporting a crypto scam is worth doing even though direct fund recovery is uncommon — it supports broader enforcement efforts and may occasionally lead to a frozen exchange account if you act quickly. File with both a relevant government agency and, if applicable, the exchange involved, and prepare thorough documentation including transaction hashes and communication records. Stay alert to recovery scams that specifically target people who have just reported a loss.