Cryptocurrency Scams

Report: if someone convinced you to buy or send cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) by promising investment returns, romance, tech support, or claiming to be from government/law enforcement. This includes being told to use crypto ATMs or apps like Coinbase, CashApp, or Binance to send money to strangers.

Common examples: Fake investment platforms, romance scams requiring crypto payments, tech support scams demanding Bitcoin, fake government agents requesting cryptocurrency.

If you believe you are the victim of a cryptocurrency scam, please share as much of the following information as possible. Even if you do not have everything, provide what you do have. Quick reporting gives investigators the best chance to trace funds.

General Information

• Where you sent the money – usually a long string of letters and numbers called a wallet address.
• Proof of the transaction – a receipt, email, or a transaction ID (sometimes shown as TXID or hash). This acts like a digital receipt.
• The app, website, or service you used (examples: Coinbase, CashApp, Binance, Kraken), and your account name or username if available.
• Bank or credit card records if you purchased cryptocurrency this way.
• Screenshots of conversations with the scammer (texts, emails, social media chats, etc.).
• Screenshots or photos of any websites or apps used during the scam process.
• Any phone numbers, email addresses, or usernames used by the scammer.
• A simple timeline – when you were first contacted, when money was sent, and any follow-up messages.
• If You Used a Cryptocurrency ATM Machine
  •    The receipt printed by the machine (shows the wallet address and transaction number).
  •    The location and name of the store where the ATM is located.
  •    The amount of cash inserted and the date/time the ATM was used.
  •    Any instructions from the scammer (such as "go to this store and put money in the Bitcoin machine").

Important: Cryptocurrency scams move quickly. The sooner investigators receive this information, the greater the chance of tracing funds and preventing further loss.