Back to Guides

Where and How to Report Cryptocurrency Fraud

Updated March 2026

You have been the victim of a cryptocurrency scam and need to know where to report it. The more agencies and platforms you inform, the greater your chances of investigation, fund recovery, and preventing the scammer from victimizing others. This guide lists every relevant reporting channel available in the United States and internationally, with specific links, filing tips, and advice on what to include with each report to maximize its impact.

1. Why Reporting Matters

Many crypto scam victims do not file reports because they feel embarrassed, doubt that anything will happen, or simply do not know where to report. This underreporting is precisely what scammers rely on. When nobody reports, there is no official record, no aggregated intelligence, and no statistical basis for law enforcement to allocate resources.

Law enforcement agencies aggregate reports to connect individual victims to the same criminal operation. A single $500 loss might not trigger an investigation, but when fifty victims report the same wallet address, the combined loss reaches investigation thresholds. Your report could be the one that tips the balance. Beyond investigation, your report creates the official case number needed for bank chargebacks, exchange compliance requests, insurance claims, and civil litigation.

2. Federal Law Enforcement Agencies

FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

IC3 (ic3.gov) is the primary US federal portal for reporting internet-enabled crime, including all forms of cryptocurrency fraud. File a detailed complaint including all transaction hashes, wallet addresses, communications, and the dollar value of your loss. IC3 feeds reports into the FBI's investigative pipeline and shares data with other federal, state, and international agencies. The IC3 also operates the Recovery Asset Team (RAT), which has successfully frozen funds in time-sensitive cases involving wire transfers and exchange deposits.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Report at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The FTC tracks fraud trends and uses consumer reports to bring enforcement actions against deceptive businesses. While the FTC does not resolve individual cases, your report contributes to their Consumer Sentinel Network, accessed by over 2,800 law enforcement agencies. The FTC has brought major enforcement actions against crypto scam operations based on aggregated consumer reports.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

If the scam involved an investment scheme, token sale, ICO, or any product marketed as a security, file with the SEC at sec.gov/tcr. The SEC's Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit pursues enforcement against fraudulent token offerings, unregistered exchanges, and investment scams. The whistleblower program offers financial awards of 10-30% on sanctions exceeding $1 million.

Local Police

File a report with your local police department regardless of which federal agencies you report to. This generates an official case number essential for insurance claims, exchange compliance requests, and legal proceedings. Bring a printed summary of the evidence, including transaction records and communications, to make it easy for officers to process the report accurately.

3. Reporting to Crypto Exchanges

If your stolen cryptocurrency landed on a regulated exchange, that exchange can freeze the recipient's account. Major exchanges have dedicated compliance teams that cooperate with law enforcement. Reporting directly to exchanges is critical because they are often the endpoint where stolen crypto is converted to fiat currency.

Binance

Binance operates a Law Enforcement Response System and a user-facing scam reporting form. Report the scam through binance.com/en/support by selecting "Report Scam" or creating a support ticket. For law enforcement, there is a separate portal (Binance Law Enforcement Request System). Binance can freeze accounts and provide transaction data to authorities.

Coinbase

Coinbase has a compliance team that responds to fraud reports and law enforcement requests. Report through help.coinbase.com by navigating to "Report a Scam." As a US-regulated entity, Coinbase is subject to strict compliance requirements and cooperates regularly with domestic and international authorities.

Kraken

Kraken provides fraud reporting forms through support.kraken.com. For law enforcement requests, use the dedicated Law Enforcement Portal. Kraken is known for fast response times on well-documented fraud reports that include police case numbers and blockchain evidence.

Other Exchanges

OKX (okx.com/support), Bybit (bybit.com/support), Gemini (gemini.com/support), and other regulated exchanges all have compliance teams. Search for "Report Fraud" or "Law Enforcement" on the support page. The more information you include with your report (police case number, blockchain analysis PDF, transaction hashes), the faster compliance teams will act.

Professional Evidence for Every Report

Every report you file is stronger with professional evidence. ChainEvidence creates a blockchain analysis PDF documenting fund flows, identifying exchanges, and cross-referencing scam databases. Formatted for law enforcement, exchanges, and courts. The investigation is free.

Start Free Investigation

4. International Reporting Channels

Most cryptocurrency scam operations are internationally organized. Filing with international agencies creates multiple pressure points against cross-border criminal networks.

United Kingdom: Action Fraud

Action Fraud (actionfraud.police.uk) is the UK's national fraud reporting centre. Reports are assessed by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) and assigned to police forces for investigation. Also report to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) if the scam involved financial products.

Europe: Europol and National Police

Europol's European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) coordinates cross-border investigations within the EU. You cannot file directly with Europol, but reports to national police are shared through the European information exchange framework. In Germany, file with your local Polizeidienststelle and the BKA. In France, use the PHAROS platform. In the Netherlands, file at politie.nl.

Other Countries

Australia: report to ACSC (cyber.gov.au) and ACCC Scamwatch. Canada: file with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Singapore: use the Singapore Police Force online portal. Each country maintains its own databases and investigation capabilities, so filing broadly increases the chances of cross-border cooperation.

5. Community Reporting Platforms

Community-driven platforms play an important role in warning others and creating public records of scam activity. These databases are actively monitored by blockchain analytics firms, exchanges, and investigators.

ChainAbuse (chainabuse.com)

ChainAbuse is one of the largest community databases of reported scam cryptocurrency addresses. You can report a scam address, submit a description of the case, and upload screenshots. Reported addresses are incorporated into risk assessments used by exchanges and analytics firms, and can result in transactions to or from the address being blocked.

Bitcoinabuse (bitcoinabuse.com)

Another important reporting platform specializing in Bitcoin scam addresses. The database is used by numerous blockchain analytics firms and integrated into their risk models. Reporting takes just a few minutes and helps warn other users about the same address.

Reddit, Forums, and Social Media

Share your experience (without personal information) in relevant communities: Reddit (r/CryptoScam, r/Bitcoin, r/Scams), Trustpilot reviews of the scam platform, and forums like BitcoinTalk's Scam Accusations section. When posting, include specific details: the scam website domain, wallet addresses, the scammer's methods, and any usernames they used. The goal is to create a searchable public record so future potential victims who research the scam will find your warning.

6. Reporting Checklist — All Steps at a Glance

Use this checklist to ensure you have reported to all relevant channels: (1) Immediately secure all evidence, including screenshots, wallet addresses, TXIDs, and communications. (2) Generate a blockchain analysis PDF for professional evidence documentation. (3) File a complaint with FBI IC3 at ic3.gov. (4) File with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. (5) If investment fraud, file with the SEC at sec.gov/tcr. (6) File a report with local police for an official case number. (7) Contact affected exchanges with your case number and blockchain analysis. (8) File international reports (Action Fraud UK, Europol via national police) for cross-border scams. (9) Report the scam address on ChainAbuse. (10) Warn others on Reddit and relevant community forums. (11) Contact your bank or payment provider about chargebacks.

7. Tips for Filing Effective Reports

The quality of your report directly affects how it is handled. Every report you file, regardless of the agency, should include the following: a clear, chronological narrative of what happened; all cryptocurrency wallet addresses and transaction hashes involved; the total amount lost in both crypto and fiat currency; screenshots of the scam website, communications, and any documents provided by the scammer; WHOIS records for the scam domain; and reference numbers from any other reports you have already filed.

A ChainEvidence investigation report is specifically designed to accompany these filings. It provides blockchain analysis, fund flow diagrams, exchange identification, address risk scoring, and domain intelligence in a professional format that investigators can immediately work with. Rather than submitting raw transaction data that investigators must interpret, you provide a ready-made analytical report that accelerates their assessment.

Related Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I report a crypto scam even if the amount lost is small?

Yes, absolutely. Every report helps law enforcement identify fraud networks and connect the dots between individual cases. Often hundreds of victims are affected by the same operation, and only the aggregate of all reports reveals the true scale. Your report adds the scam address to intelligence databases, warns future potential victims, and provides the case number you need for any potential recovery action. Even a $100 loss report can contribute to dismantling a multi-million-dollar operation.

Can I report a crypto scam anonymously?

Partially. FBI IC3 requires your contact information for follow-up. The FTC allows you to report without full identification. Community platforms like ChainAbuse allow fully anonymous reports. For law enforcement reports, providing your contact details is strongly recommended because investigators may need to ask follow-up questions, and your case number is tied to your identity. Your personal information is protected under federal privacy regulations and is not shared publicly.

How long does it take for law enforcement to respond to my report?

Response times vary significantly depending on the agency and their workload. IC3 may take weeks to months before active investigation begins, though urgent cases involving recoverable funds may be escalated to the Recovery Asset Team within days. Local police typically provide a case number within days. The actual investigation can take months to years for complex international cases. Emphasize urgency if funds are still in motion.

Should I report to multiple agencies simultaneously?

Yes, you should file reports in parallel with as many relevant agencies as possible. Report to FBI IC3 (federal criminal), FTC (consumer protection), SEC (if investment fraud), local police (official case number), affected exchanges (account freezing), and community platforms like ChainAbuse (public warning). Each agency has different powers and capabilities, and parallel reporting maximizes your chances of action.

Does reporting to ChainAbuse actually help?

Yes, it makes a real difference. ChainAbuse is one of the largest community databases of reported scam cryptocurrency addresses. Your report warns other potential victims, is actively monitored by blockchain analytics firms and exchanges, and can result in the reported address being added to blacklists. Major exchanges including Binance and Coinbase actively monitor these databases. However, a ChainAbuse report does not replace a criminal complaint with law enforcement.

Related Guides

Where to Report a Crypto ScamHow to File a Crypto Fraud ComplaintHow to Collect Evidence for Crypto Fraud

Secure Evidence and Report the Fraud

Enter the scam address and get a professional blockchain analysis within minutes. The evidence PDF is the foundation for every report you file, whether with law enforcement, exchanges, or courts. The investigation is free.

Start Free Investigation