Crypto stolen? What to do now.

Do this now

1. Stop payingDo not send more, including any “fee”, “tax” or “deposit” to release your money.
2. Call the exchange or ATM operatorThe FTC’s advice is to contact the company you used to send the money immediately, tell them it was a fraudulent transaction and ask them to reverse it. Crypto payments usually cannot be reversed, so speed matters.
3. Report to IC3File at ic3.gov. The FBI asks for the crypto addresses, the amount and type of crypto, dates and times, transaction IDs (hashes), how you met the scammer and your messages, the websites or apps used, and the exchanges involved. Include anything you are unsure about, and report even if you lack some details.
4. Keep the evidence yourselfIC3 does not take attachments or hold evidence. Save screenshots, messages, emails, wallet addresses, receipts and the transaction history somewhere safe.
5. Report to the FTC as wellThe FTC takes reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

The recovery scam that follows

The FBI has warned repeatedly, most recently in July and September 2026, about scammers who target people who have already lost money. The signs:

• Someone contacts you. IC3 says it will never directly communicate with individuals, and does not work with law firms or crypto services to recover funds. A message claiming to be from IC3 is not. Follow-up on a real report can come from an FBI field office or local police.
• They want a fee. IC3 will never ask for payment to recover lost funds, and will not refer you to a company that does. The FTC says legitimate organisations never charge for help getting a refund.
• They claim a special power. Private companies cannot get seizure orders, and exchanges freeze accounts only under their own processes or legal process.
• They look official. Fake law firms, fake IC3 websites, fake FBI agents on social media and deepfake videos have all been reported. No law firm is an official partner of US agencies for recovering funds.
• They want crypto, gift cards or a wire. Officials never ask for payment in crypto.

We do not do recovery. BSJ Ventures does not offer crypto recovery, does not trace funds, and does not charge victims for anything. We will not contact you about a loss. If someone says they are from BSJ and offers to get your money back, it is a scam.

Questions people ask

Where do I report stolen crypto?

Report to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov, with the addresses, amounts, dates, transaction IDs and how you were contacted. Also contact the exchange or crypto ATM operator you used straight away, and report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Can stolen crypto be recovered?

Sometimes, if an exchange freezes funds quickly or law enforcement seizes them, but crypto payments usually cannot be reversed. Be wary of anyone who promises recovery: the FBI warns that private companies cannot get seizure orders and that recovery offers are a common second scam.

Will IC3 or the FBI contact me about my report?

IC3 says it will never directly communicate with individuals and will never ask for payment to recover funds. Follow-up on a real report may come from an FBI field office or local police. A message claiming to be from IC3 is a scam.

Are crypto recovery services legitimate?

Treat any service that asks for an upfront fee, a 'tax' or payment in crypto to recover your money as a scam. The FBI has warned about fake recovery companies and fake law firms, and says no law firm is an official partner of US agencies for recovering funds.

Does BSJ Ventures help recover stolen crypto?

No. BSJ Ventures does not offer recovery, does not trace funds and does not charge victims. Report to IC3 at ic3.gov.

Primary sources

• FBI/IC3 PSA I-082423-PSA, FBI Guidance for Cryptocurrency Scam Victims, 24 August 2023.
• FBI/IC3 PSA I-081123-PSA, companies falsely claiming to recover crypto losses, 11 August 2023.
• FBI/IC3 PSA I-081325-PSA, fictitious law firms targeting crypto scam victims (update), 13 August 2025.
• FBI/IC3 PSA I-072026-PSA, scammers impersonating the FBI and IC3 (update), 20 July 2026.
• FBI/IC3 PSA I-091726-PSA, law enforcement and government impersonation, 17 September 2026.
• IC3, Frequently Asked Questions, read 12 October 2026.
• FTC, What To Do if You Were Scammed, June 2026; FTC, Refund and Recovery Scams, December 2023.

General information, not legal advice. BSJ Ventures publishes methods; it never publishes clients, cases or verdicts, and it claims no relationship with any agency or maker named here.