Scam Steps
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Crypto sent to an exchange account (Coinbase, Binance, Kraken, etc.)

Funds sent to a wallet still controlled by a regulated exchange — small window where freeze is possible.

Realistic recovery rate
5–15%

Exchanges can sometimes freeze funds before the scammer withdraws. The window is hours, not days. Recovery odds are still low (5–15%) but real, unlike non-custodial wallets.

Do this first

Contact the receiving exchange's law-enforcement / compliance portal immediately. Provide transaction hash, your IC3 complaint number, and a police report number if you have one. Speed matters more than completeness — the scammer is moving the funds.

Calls to make first

Phone calls move faster than online filings, especially in the first 24–48 hours. Make these calls before, or while, you work through the templated filings below.

  1. 1. The receiving crypto exchange's compliance / law-enforcement portal

    24/7 web intake
    Not phone — a web form. Coinbase: coinbase.com/legal/law_enforcement_inquiries · Binance: search 'Binance law enforcement request' · Kraken: support.kraken.com → report theft.

    What to say: Submit transaction hash, receiving address, your IC3 confirmation number (file IC3 first if you can), and a brief account of the fraud. Request a freeze on the receiving account.

    Why this one: Exchanges can freeze the receiving account if you reach them before the scammer withdraws. The window is hours, not days. Recovery isn't guaranteed but it's the only crypto route with any chance.

  2. 2. Your bank's fraud department

    Most major US banks: 24/7
    On the back of your card, or look up '[your bank name] fraud department'

    What to say: Say: 'I'm a victim of fraud and need to file a dispute.' Ask for a dispute reference number before hanging up. Email any documents they request the same day.

    Why this one: Where the money lives. This is the single most important call — it starts the formal dispute timer and, for card fraud, usually triggers provisional credit within 10 business days.

  3. 3. Your local police non-emergency line

    24/7 for non-emergency; online forms available anytime
    Search '[your city] police non-emergency' or 311 in many cities. Online report option exists in most US cities.

    What to say: Say: 'I want to file a police report for fraud. I'm not asking for an investigation — I need a case number for my bank and federal filings.' Get the case number in writing or by email.

    Why this one: The case number is the deliverable. Most departments do not investigate losses under ~$5,000, but the case number is required by many banks for dispute processing and by the FTC identity-theft flow.

Find your bank's official fraud page

Each link goes to the bank's main domain. The current fraud phone number lives on that page — call the number listed there, or the one printed on the back of your card. Don't trust phone numbers found in a search result.

Don't see your bank? Type its name into a search engine with the words "report fraud" and only follow a link whose domain matches the bank's main website. Scammers buy ads on bank-name searches; the top result is not always real.

Free, official help from a real person

If you'd like to talk to someone before filing, these are free public services. They cannot recover funds for you, but they will walk you through what to do next.

  • AARP Fraud Watch Helpline — 877-908-3360. Free, 7 days/week, you do not need to be an AARP member or over 50. Trained volunteers who specialize in scam recovery guidance.
  • FTC ReportFraud advisor — reportfraud.ftc.gov. After filing, the FTC sometimes connects you with a consumer- advice specialist.
  • FTC IdentityTheft.gov — identitytheft.gov. Best place to start if your Social Security number, accounts, or personal information were exposed.
  • FBI IC3 — ic3.gov. Federal intake for internet-enabled crime.
  • CFPB — consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Use this if your bank refuses your fraud dispute.
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