Discovering a scam brings distress and a sense of urgency. But what you do in the first 48 hours can protect the money you still have and improve the options in your case. These are the steps, in order.
Short answer
In the first 48 hours: stop sending money, secure your accounts, save all the evidence, alert your bank, your card issuer, or the exchange, report to IC3 and the FTC, be wary of recovery offers, and get an independent evaluation before you pay anyone.
1. Stop sending money
Even if they tell you it’s the last fee, a tax, or insurance to release your withdrawal. Having to pay to withdraw is the clearest sign of fraud. If it’s a broker, read what to do if your broker won’t let you withdraw.
2. Secure your accounts
- Change the passwords for your email, your bank, and your exchanges.
- Turn on two-step verification.
- If you installed a remote access program because the platform asked you to, uninstall it.
- If you shared your seed phrase, move whatever is left to a new wallet.
3. Save all the evidence
Before the site disappears: screenshots of your balance and history, complete chats, receipts for every payment and, if you sent cryptocurrency, the hashes and addresses. Follow our evidence guide.
4. Alert your bank, your card issuer, or the exchange
Call as soon as possible, explain that you believe you have been the victim of fraud, and ask for a case number. Some claims have short deadlines. If you sent crypto from an exchange, report it there too, with the destination addresses.
5. Report it
File a report with IC3 and the FTC and, depending on the type of investment, with the CFTC or the SEC. It’s free and creates an official record. We explain where to report based on your case.
6. Be wary of recovery offers
In the following days, you will likely be contacted by people who promise to recover your money in exchange for a payment. Review the six signs of a recovery scam before you respond.
7. Get an independent evaluation
With your evidence organized, an evaluation tells you whether your case is viable and which options exist. At INDAGA, the evaluation is free and, if you decide to continue, the report has a flat fee set in writing.
If the platform demands payment to release your money, read they’re asking me to pay taxes to withdraw my money; if you sent USDT, read what to do if your USDT is frozen.
If it all started with an online relationship, read how the crypto romance scam works; if it was a job offer, read about the online task job scam.
For your claim with your bank, follow this guide to chargebacks and disputes.
