Description

I spotted a tidy 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air with fresh chrome and period hubcaps, priced like a quick sale. The seller promised overnight paperwork and a couriered title once funds cleared. They pushed crypto because “banks were slow this week.” I paid in digital currency and received a PDF bill of sale that referenced an address which didn’t exist on any map. The shipper name was real, but the booking number wasn’t. Every breadcrumb led to nothing, and I learned the hard way how easily a believable story can empty your account. 

Reporting cryptocurrency complaints and scams

If you believe you have been a victim of a cryptocurrency scam or fraud, here's how you can file a complaint and seek assistance:

1. Stop communication and transactions
Immediately stop sending any money or cryptocurrency to the suspected criminals. Do not notify the suspected criminals of any reports made to law enforcement, as this may compromise their ability to investigate. 

2. File a report with relevant agencies; FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): This is a key resource for reporting cryptocurrency investment fraud and other cyber-enabled crimes. You can file a report at ic3.gov. Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Report cryptocurrency scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC): File a complaint with the CFTC at CFTC.gov/complaint. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): You can submit a tip or complaint to the SEC at sec.gov/tcr. Local Law Enforcement: Report the crime to your local police department, including details like your wallet address, the scammer's wallet address, and transaction hashes. Cryptocurrency Exchange: Contact the cryptocurrency exchange you used to send the money and report the fraudulent transaction.

3. Provide comprehensive information: When filing reports, include as much information as possible, including: Scammer Details: How they contacted you, identifying information (name, phone, address, email, usernames). Transaction Information: Dates, amounts, types of cryptocurrency involved, account numbers (including cryptocurrency wallet addresses), receiving financial institution details, and receiving cryptocurrency addresses. Transaction IDs (hash): These are important for tracking cryptocurrency transactions. 

4. Be cautious of recovery services: Be extremely wary of any service claiming to recover lost cryptocurrency, especially those that demand an upfront fee, as these are often scams themselves. 
Common cryptocurrency complaints and scams: Some common types of cryptocurrency complaints and scams include: Imposter Scams: Scammers impersonate legitimate businesses or individuals to gain access to your accounts or information. Investment Scams: These often promise high returns with low risk and rely on funds from new investors to pay earlier investors. These include "pig butchering" scams, where scammers build relationships with victims and then lure them into fake investments. Phishing Scams: Scammers use fake emails, websites, or messages to trick you into revealing sensitive information like private keys or passwords. Pump and Dump Schemes: Artificially inflating the price of a cryptocurrency and then selling off the holdings, causing the price to crash.
Fake ICOs and Exchanges: Bogus Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and platforms that mimic legitimate ones to steal funds. Liquidity Mining/Yield Farming Scams: Fraudulent investment opportunities promoted through private messaging platforms. Giveaway/Airdrop Scams: Impersonating public figures or companies offering free crypto, often using social media or websites. Romance Scams: Scammers develop relationships with victims through dating apps or social media and then introduce them to fraudulent investment opportunities. 

Additional considerations: Cryptocurrency transactions are generally not reversible, making it difficult to recover funds once they are sent.
Government agencies like the FDIC do not insure cryptocurrency accounts. Always exercise caution, research thoroughly before investing, and be suspicious of anyone guaranteeing high or quick returns.
If you are 60 or older, you can contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline (833-372-8311) for assistance with filing an IC3 complaint.