Recovery · beginner · 7 min
🆘 Scam Recovery: Document and Report
After a suspected scam, take specific steps to document, report, and explore recovery options.
What You'll Learn
crypto scam recovery steps
- Preserve evidence for recovery attempts
- Report to the correct authorities
- Understand your recovery options
- Document losses for tax purposes
Step-by-Step Process
Preserve All Evidence Immediately
Screenshot conversations, balances, transaction IDs, and wallet addresses. This evidence is load-bearing.
- Evidence preservation template
- Blockchain transaction archiving guide
Report to the FTC
The Federal Trade Commission maintains the largest database of consumer fraud reports.
- FTC complaint filing tool
- Complaint form template
- FTC digital asset fraud division info
Report to Financial Regulators
The CFTC and SEC also track digital asset fraud and use reports to issue warnings.
- CFTC complaint submission portal
- SEC investor complaint center
- State Attorney General digital asset task force
Report to the Platform or Blockchain
If the scam used a specific platform or exchange, report directly to their security team.
- Platform abuse reporting contacts
- Security team email template
Check If the Wallet Can Be Frozen
Some stablecoins and tokens include freeze functions. If the scammer received stablecoins, they might be freezable.
- Stablecoin issuer contact directory
- Freeze-function database
- Token issuer legal department contacts
Document for Tax Purposes
A scam loss is a capital loss for tax purposes if crypto was involved. Proper documentation helps at tax time.
- Tax loss documentation template
- Scam loss tax treatment guide
- IRS digital asset loss procedures
Recommended Tools
These affiliate recommendations support the pathway above. Click to explore each one.
Crypto tax organizer
Tax-reporting comparison hub for users with exchange, wallet, DeFi, NFT, and staking records.
Affiliate relationship disclosed. We rank by fit and risk transparency, not commission.
Full risk details
- Best for
- Users with multiple exchange or wallet histories who need cleaner records.
- Avoid if
- You need legal tax advice; software does not replace a qualified professional.
- Risk note
- Imported data can be incomplete. Review transactions before filing.
- Score rationale
- Low speculation risk, high painkiller value, and strong monetization fit when framed as organization, not tax advice.
Related Guides
Dive deeper into specific topics mentioned in this pathway.
Next Steps
After completing this pathway, you'll be ready to:
- Preserve evidence for recovery attempts
- Report to the correct authorities
- Understand your recovery options
- Document losses for tax purposes
Start with the first step above, and work through each one in order.
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