How do I report a crypto scam in the US? (IC3, FTC, exchange, police)
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Short answer: Stop sending money, then report in this order: the exchange, crypto ATM operator or bank you paid from; the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov; the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov; and local police. Include wallet addresses, transaction hashes, amounts and timestamps. If the victim is 60 or older, call 833-372-8311. (FTC; FBI IC3; DOJ)
What this covers: how to report a crypto scam in the USA: an ordered reporting checklist (exchange or kiosk, IC3, FTC, police, state attorney general, CFPB, SEC/CFTC), a copy-ready evidence template for wallet addresses, transaction hashes and timestamps, and the elder fraud hotline. Who it's for: you, if you just sent crypto to a scammer, from an exchange like Coinbase, a self-custody wallet or a Bitcoin ATM, or you're filing for a parent who did. What it isn't: a recovery service, legal advice, or a promise you'll get money back; we don't refer anyone to recovery firms or exchanges.
Key facts
- In 2025, Americans filed 181,565 complaints involving cryptocurrency with the FBI's IC3, reporting more than $11 billion in losses, the costliest category. (FBI, Apr 6, 2026)
- Americans over 60 reported about $7.7 billion in losses to IC3 across all crime types in 2025, up 37% from 2024. (FBI, Apr 6, 2026)
- The FBI says the most important things to give it are transaction details: crypto addresses, amount and type, date and time, and the transaction ID (hash). (FBI IC3)
- IC3 shows your complaint once, right after you submit it, and won't email you a copy. Save or print it then. (IC3 FAQ)
- The FTC says it shares ReportFraud.ftc.gov reports with over 2,000 law enforcers but can't resolve individual reports. (FTC)
In what order should I report a crypto scam?
Do step 0 first, then steps 1 to 4 the same day if you can. Steps 5 to 8 depend on what happened. All links below were checked on 2026-10-25; type the address yourself rather than clicking a search ad, because scammers run fake IC3 sites. (FBI IC3)
- Step 0: stop sending and save everything. Don't pay any "fee" or "tax" to unlock a withdrawal; the FBI says paying will not get your funds back. Don't tell the scammer you're reporting them. Fill in the evidence template below so you only type it once. (FBI)
- The exchange, crypto ATM operator, bank or payment app you paid from. Contact them immediately, tell them it was a fraudulent transaction, and ask them to reverse it and refund you. Use the support link inside their app or the number on your card, not a number from a search result or a DM. (FTC)
- FBI IC3: ic3.gov → "File a Complaint". You can file for someone else. Save or print the complaint on the confirmation screen. (FBI IC3; IC3 FAQ)
- FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report goes into the FTC's Consumer Sentinel database used by law enforcement. (FTC; FTC)
- Local police or sheriff's office. The CFPB lists this as the first step for scam victims. Ask for a report number and keep it with your evidence. If the matter is time-sensitive, IC3 says to contact local law enforcement directly, and you can also call your local FBI field office. (CFPB; IC3 FAQ)
- Your state attorney general. Find yours through the National Association of Attorneys General. (CFPB)
- If a US exchange, ATM operator or money-transfer company won't help: the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. It accepts complaints about "money transfers, virtual currency, and money services" and forwards them to the company; most companies respond within 15 days. You generally can't file a second complaint about the same problem, so include everything. (CFPB)
- If it was a fake investment or trading platform: the SEC at sec.gov/tcr and the CFTC at cftc.gov/complaint. The FTC lists both for crypto fraud. (FTC)
- If the victim is 60 or older: call the National Elder Fraud Hotline, 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311), Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern. A case manager helps with reporting at the federal, state and local levels, free. (DOJ Office for Victims of Crime)
Where do I report each kind of crypto scam?
| Where | Official address (checked 2026-10-25) | Report here when | What happens after |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange, crypto ATM operator, bank or payment app | The support page inside their app or on their own site | Always, first: you sent money from or through them | They may be able to reverse or freeze; crypto has fewer legal protections than cards, so it can be hard (FTC) |
| FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) | ic3.gov | Any crypto scam, theft or drain, even without transaction details | Analysts review it and send it to law enforcement; you won't hear from IC3 itself (IC3 FAQ) |
| Federal Trade Commission | ReportFraud.ftc.gov | Any scam, impersonator or bad business practice | Shared with 2,000+ law enforcers; the FTC can't resolve your case (FTC) |
| Local police or sheriff | Your local department's non-emergency line (911 if anyone is in danger) | Always; ask for a report number | A local report and report number (CFPB) |
| State attorney general | naag.org/find-my-ag | Consumer fraud, crypto ATM disputes, local companies | Varies by state (CFPB) |
| Consumer Financial Protection Bureau | consumerfinance.gov/complaint | A dispute with a financial company, including virtual currency and money transfers | Forwarded to the company; most respond within 15 days (CFPB) |
| SEC / CFTC | sec.gov/tcr · cftc.gov/complaint | Fake investment, trading or "AI trading bot" platforms | Tip or complaint to the regulator (FTC) |
| National Elder Fraud Hotline (DOJ) | 833-372-8311 · ovc.ojp.gov | The victim is 60 or older | A case manager helps you report at every level (DOJ) |
What evidence do I need to report a crypto scam?
"The most important information you can provide are transaction details. Transaction details include cryptocurrency addresses, amount and type of cryptocurrency, date and time, and transaction ID (hash)."
Copy this template into a note or document and fill one row per transaction. The example column uses the FBI's own illustrative values, which are not real addresses or transactions. (FBI IC3)
| Field | What to write | Example (FBI's format) |
|---|---|---|
| Your wallet or account | The address or exchange account you sent from | Exchange name + account email, or your wallet's public address |
| Scammer's receiving address | The full address you sent to, copied, not typed | 0x58566904f57eac4E9EDd81BbC2f877865ECd35985 |
| Amount and coin | Exact amount and which cryptocurrency (and the US dollar value at the time) | 1.02345 ether |
| Date and time, with time zone | When each transaction was sent | 1 January 2023, 12:01 AM EST |
| Transaction ID (hash) | From your wallet's history or a block explorer | 0xfa485de419011ceefdd3cd00a4ff64e52bf9a0dfa528e4fff8bb4c9c |
| Crypto ATM details (if used) | Kiosk operator name, location, receipt and cash amount | Photo of the receipt |
| How it started | Where and how you first met the scammer | "Wrong-number" text, dating app, Telegram group, search ad |
| Scammer identifiers | Names, usernames, phone numbers, emails used | Screenshots of profiles and chats |
| Sites and apps | Every domain, website or app they told you to use | The fake platform's exact URL |
| Codes you shared | Any two-factor or one-time passcode information | "Read a 6-digit code to the caller on Oct 3" |
| Exchanges used | Each exchange you used to send or receive | Exchange name(s) |
| Timeline | Dated list of what happened, start to finish | One line per day |
| Report numbers | Your IC3 copy, FTC report number, police report number | Keep them together for follow-ups |
Every row except "Crypto ATM details" and "Report numbers" comes from the FBI's list of what to include. No transaction details? File anyway; the FBI asks you to report with whatever you have. If you learn something new later, file a new IC3 complaint that says it adds to your earlier one; IC3 complaints can't be edited. (FBI IC3; IC3 FAQ)
What happens after I report?
- IC3 won't update you. IC3 doesn't investigate; analysts forward complaints to law enforcement, and agencies decide whether to investigate. You'll be contacted only if more information is needed. (IC3 FAQ)
- The real FBI may call. If you've been identified as a likely victim of crypto investment fraud, the FBI may email or phone you and leave instructions to verify its identity. It will never ask for money, move you to a messaging app, or ask for bank details. (FBI)
- Expect a recovery pitch, and ignore it. The FBI says almost all victims are later contacted by recovery scammers posing as law enforcement, companies or law firms. IC3 doesn't work with any non-law-enforcement entity to recover funds. (FBI; FBI IC3) See how crypto recovery scams work.
- Watch for fake "hotline" and fake "FTC" calls. The DOJ warns that scammers impersonate the Elder Fraud Hotline, and the FTC says it will never tell you to move money to "protect it." (DOJ; FTC)
Frequently asked questions
Should I report a crypto scam to IC3 or the FTC?
Both. The FTC itself lists IC3, the FTC, the CFTC, the SEC and the exchange you used as places to report crypto fraud. IC3 is the FBI's intake for cyber-enabled crime; ReportFraud.ftc.gov feeds a database shared with over 2,000 law enforcers.
Can I report a crypto scam without a transaction hash?
Yes. The FBI says to file at ic3.gov even if you don't have transaction information, and to include as much as you have. You can usually find the hash later in your wallet or exchange transaction history.
Will reporting a crypto scam get my money back?
Not usually. Crypto payments typically can't be reversed and lack the legal protections of credit and debit cards. Ask the exchange or ATM operator right away; in some cases the FBI can freeze stolen funds, and some states have kiosk refund laws.
How do I report a crypto scam for an elderly parent?
You can file an IC3 complaint on behalf of another person. If they're 60 or older, call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311 (Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern), and contact local adult protective services through the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116.
Does IC3 or the FBI ever charge a fee or contact me on social media?
No. IC3 says it will never contact you directly for information or money and does not work with law firms or crypto services to recover funds. Anyone asking for a fee to "process" your report is a scammer.
What to do next
Report the crypto scam in this order today: the exchange or crypto ATM operator you paid through, then ic3.gov with your transaction hashes, then ReportFraud.ftc.gov, then local police. Fill in the evidence template first so you only type it once. If the victim is 60 or older, call 833-372-8311.
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Sources
- FBI IC3, "FBI Guidance for Cryptocurrency Scam Victims" (I-082423-PSA), 2023-08-24. ic3.gov (accessed 2026-10-25)
- FBI IC3, "Frequently Asked Questions" (undated). ic3.gov/Home/FAQ (accessed 2026-10-25)
- FBI IC3, home page notice "Scammers are Impersonating the IC3" (undated), and PSA "FBI Warns of Scammers Impersonating the IC3" (I-072026-PSA), 2026-07-20. ic3.gov; ic3.gov PSA (accessed 2026-10-25)
- FBI National Press Office, "Cryptocurrency and AI Scams Bilk Americans of Billions," 2026-04-06. fbi.gov (accessed 2026-10-25)
- FBI, "Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud" (undated victim-services page). fbi.gov (accessed 2026-10-25)
- Federal Trade Commission, "What To Do if You Were Scammed" (undated). consumer.ftc.gov (accessed 2026-10-25)
- Federal Trade Commission, "What To Know About Cryptocurrency and Scams," May 2022 ("How To Report Cryptocurrency Scams"). consumer.ftc.gov (accessed 2026-10-25)
- Federal Trade Commission, ReportFraud.ftc.gov home page ("How it works," Privacy Act Statement). reportfraud.ftc.gov (accessed 2026-10-25)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, "Submit a complaint about a financial product or service," page last modified 2026-10-05. consumerfinance.gov (accessed 2026-10-25)
- U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, "National Elder Fraud Hotline: Providing Help, Restoring Hope" (undated). ovc.ojp.gov (accessed 2026-10-25)
Changelog
- 2026-10-25: First published. All official links and the hotline number checked the same day.