.png)
Home / Victim Resources
Victim Resources
Do you believe you are being scammed?
Crypto scams often utilize a romantic component which can leave victims in a vulnerable state. Not only are they dealing with the financial loss, but there is often the heartbreak of losing love, coupled with the shame and embarrassment of being fooled. If that is you, know that you are not alone and that thousands of people have found themselves in your exact situation. Below is a guide on your next steps.
Private Tracing and Recovery
Be cautious when engaging private tracing companies promising recovery. At best they are providing a service that should be done for free by law enforcement, at worst they may be attempting to further victimize you. There may be occasions however, when reputable companies can bring the expertise and tools needed to assist law enforcement. Follow the steps below prior to considering this expense.
​The Process
01.
Do NOT send more money
They will tell you that you need to pay fees or taxes to release your proceeds, these are additional ploys to steal more money. They may also try and manipulate you by playing on the personal relationship they have cultivated, do not be fooled. Some victims have had success in playing on their greed and convincing the fraudsters that they are ready to "go all in"" but must first make a partial withdrawal to ensure the legitimacy of the investment. This may work as a last ditch effort to get some portion of your funds back prior to law enforcement involvement.
02.
Collect Evidence
Collect your bitcoin ATM receipts, exchange records, and wire orders. Additionally, download your communication records (Whatsapp and others can be entirely downloaded). You will likely have embarrassing content you wish to keep private, do not alter the records, provide them in entirety to law enforcement.
03.
Report to local law enforcement
Not many jurisdictions are experienced with crypto crime but they do have resources to assist (including this site), so start there. File the report and ask to follow up with a detective in the economic crimes unit. If they are not sure how to proceed, send them here and we will PROVIDE FREE RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE.
04.
Report to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and Federal Trade Commission
This does not automatically launch an investigation but will make your case discoverable to investigators who may be able to link you in to cases they are already working, or proactively seek you out. LINKS BELOW
05.
Report to Federal Authorities
US Secret Service operates Cyber Fraud Task Forces around the country and specialize in such crimes. They can be difficult to contact and may have high loss thresholds. Additionally, the FBI has units with these capabilities but may have even higher thresholds to garner interest. Time is of the essence so always best to start locally.
06.
Private Sector Scam Reporting
There are numerous websites that track known scam addresses. Report your scam here to help prevent others from falling victim to the same scam. Some law enforcement will also utilize these sites to identify additional victims on cases they are actively working.
LINKS BELOW
IC3
Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI
IC3 is a fraud reporting database run by the FBI. Cases reported here can be proactively searched by federal and local law enforcement. Additionally, analyst may look for patterns in addresses or high dollar amounts for an active referral for investigation, but not every report will be reviewed, this is not the same as initiating a case with a local field office.
FTC
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal trade Commission operates the Consumer Sentinel Network. this is an online database which may be used by law enforcement to search for leads or active cases for investigation.
SEC
Securities and Exchange Commission
The SEC deals specifically with investment related fraud scams. You may report a tip to them if you believe you were lured into a fraudulent investment scheme.
​
DDG
Digital Defenders
Group
Digital Defenders Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping victims of cybercrime and cryptocurrency fraud. They provide support and guidance to help victims report the crime and understand their options. They are committed to assisting victims in achieving justice.​