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How to report a crypto scam in United States
In the United States, report cryptocurrency fraud to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. That is the channel that can lead to a federal investigation. File a second report with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, which feeds the Consumer Sentinel database that state and federal investigators search. Both are free, take about twenty minutes, and are far more useful if you attach your transaction IDs.
Where to report, and what each channel actually does
Not every reporting channel does the same thing. Some can start an investigation; others collect intelligence and will never respond to you individually. Both are worth filing — but only one of them begins a process. File in this order.
FBI IC3 Police — can lead to an investigation
The primary federal channel for internet crime. IC3 groups reports by wallet address, so the transaction hashes you attach are literally what connects your case to other victims of the same operation. Reports without them are much weaker.
FTC ReportFraud Intelligence only — no case response
Feeds the Consumer Sentinel Network, searchable by federal and state investigators. You will not get an individual response, and that is not a sign your report was ignored.
Your state Attorney General Regulator
Some states pursue crypto fraud that federal agencies decline on value grounds. Search for '[your state] attorney general consumer complaint'.
CFTC or SEC Regulator
If the scam was framed as commodity, futures, or securities investment, add a report here. Neither agency recovers individual losses, but both bring enforcement actions.
What to include in your report
The transaction IDs are the single most important thing. A report without them is dramatically weaker, because investigators group cases by wallet address.
- Every wallet address you sent funds to
- Transaction IDs (hashes) for each transfer
- Dates, times and amounts
- Every website, app and account name used
- Full chat exports — not screenshots, which lose timestamps
- Bank statements showing money moving to the exchange
Can American courts help?
A US civil claim generally requires a defendant identifiable in a cooperative jurisdiction. Where the trail leads to a US-facing exchange, ask a litigator about a John Doe complaint with expedited discovery — a subpoena to that exchange is often the only way to put a name to an account. This is worth exploring at larger loss sizes; below roughly $50,000 the legal costs usually exceed any realistic recovery.
If a firm offers to recover your money
Expect to be approached. Victim lists are bought and sold, and recovery fraud specifically targets people who have already lost money once. Before paying anyone, ask what licence they hold, from which regulator, and what the number is.
The licence to demand in United States
A state-bar-admitted attorney, or a private investigator licensed by your state. Both are checkable in public directories. Ask for the number, then look it up yourself rather than trusting a badge on a website.
Charging a fee before recovering anything is prohibited by the FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule, 16 CFR 310.4(a)(5). The 2016 amendment extended this beyond telemarketing to cover losses from any prior transaction, including online ones. A firm asking for money upfront is not displaying a warning sign — it is engaged in a prohibited practice.
A SAM.gov registration is not a licence. A NATO NCAGE code is not a licence. Both are free self-registrations with no vetting behind them, and both are used constantly by fraudulent operators to look official.
Check whether your case is recoverable — free
Frequently asked questions
Does the FBI investigate every crypto scam report?
No. IC3 receives far more complaints than can be individually investigated. Reports are aggregated and analysed, and cases are opened where patterns, loss volume, or a traceable network justify it. Your report contributes to that picture whether or not you hear back.
Will I get my money back through IC3?
Rarely, and never quickly. Where funds are still at a US-regulated exchange and the report is filed within days, a freeze is occasionally possible. Once funds have moved through a mixer or an offshore exchange, recovery through this route is very unlikely.
Should I pay a company to recover my crypto?
Not one that charges before recovering anything — in the US that is prohibited under the FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule. Legitimate arrangements are contingency-based and put in writing, from a firm that can name its regulator and licence number.
How long do I have to report?
There is no deadline for filing, but recoverability decays fast. The realistic window for a freeze is days, not months. File immediately even if your evidence is incomplete — you can supplement later.
What if the scammer is overseas?
Most are. That limits civil options but does not make reporting pointless: IC3 shares intelligence internationally, and large networks are dismantled on aggregated reports across jurisdictions.
Do I need a lawyer to file a report?
No. All the channels above are free and designed for the public to use directly. A lawyer becomes relevant only if you are considering civil action.