Scammed with crypto? Here’s what you can do
Scammed with crypto? These are your next steps
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum offer opportunities but unfortunately also attract criminals. Every day, we receive questions from people asking: have I been scammed with crypto? Often, it involves professional fraud schemes where victims realize too late what happened. It is important to act quickly, but carefully.
When might you have been scammed with crypto?
You might be a victim of crypto fraud if one or more of the following apply:
- You were persuaded to invest via social media, WhatsApp, or dating apps.
- A guaranteed or unusually high return was promised.
- You were asked to pay additional funds to release ''profits.''
- The trading platform suddenly went offline or became unreachable.
- Your contact person disappears or stops responding.
What should I do if I've been scammed with crypto?
Many victims wait too long out of embarrassment or uncertainty. While understandable, time is a critical factor.
We recommend the following steps:
- Stop paying or investing immediately.
- File a report with the police.
- Keep all communication, transactions, and wallet addresses.
- Avoid trying to recover funds via unknown parties.
- Engage a specialized investigative agency and/or lawyer.
We support victims by providing structure and clarity in what is often a chaotic situation. DataExpert has specialized, legally authorized private investigators and works with lawyers in several countries, including Hupkes Advocaten within the Netherlands.
How can I recover crypto?
Although crypto transactions are technically irreversible, there are options. Depending on the situation, we can:
- Analyze money flows through blockchain investigations.
- Map crypto addresses and transaction paths.
- Collect evidence for civil or criminal proceedings.
- Identify relevant exchanges to freeze or recover stolen crypto.
Each case is unique and requires a tailored approach. Tracing focuses on “deposit addresses”: moments when crypto moves to wallets or platforms. These serve as starting points for further investigation, freezing, or legal action.
What are my chances of recovering crypto?
The honest answer is: there are no guarantees. However, there are situations where the chances of (partial) recovery are higher. The likelihood increases if:
- You act quickly.
- The crypto was recently transferred.
- Trusted exchanges were used.
- Sufficient transaction data is available.
Investigations can lead to frozen assets or successful claims. In other cases, research mainly helps with damage limitation and legal follow-up.
How does the crypto recovery process work?
The first step is filing a police report, which is the criminal route aimed at tracking and prosecuting the perpetrators. You can also join civil proceedings, allowing a judge to assess potential compensation if a suspect faces trial.
Our investigations focus less on the perpetrators and more on tracing, freezing, and potentially recovering stolen crypto. The process:
- Intake & Analysis: Assessment of your situation and feasibility of next steps via a Quickscan.
- Discussion with your lawyer: Quickscan results form the basis for a detailed consultation with your lawyer.
- Full tracing investigation: After the consultation, we start the investigation, mapping relevant transactions and deposits so your lawyer can take legal action.
- Civil proceedings: The full tracing investigation supports civil claims, guided by your lawyer.
Need help with crypto scams?
If you have been scammed or suspect crypto fraud, please contact us