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. 

I chased a dream listing for a 1965 Ford Mustang—clean paint, tidy engine bay, “garage kept.” The seller said the car sat in storage and couldn’t be shown, but inspection photos would follow. The VIN looked plausible until a decoder spit back mismatched trim details. A “shipping coordinator” promised pickup as soon as funds hit. I initiated a bank wire transfer after being told card payments weren’t possible. All I got afterward were recycled emails and a tracking link that never populated. Days of promises turned into silence, and I was left with an empty account and no Mustang.

received text mesage Hi, I'm Jasmine Martine, HR Customer Service Representative at WBD Global Streaming. We got your number by working with multiple HR platforms. So, our company has a position for you as a Content Promotion Assistant. This is a great remote part.\-time/full time online job with one-on-one mentoring to help you get started. Salary is paid on a daily basis. If you like, you can earn from $100 to $500 a day. Monthy salary is about $63--. 3-day trial period is $688 full-time employee joining bonus after the trial period. Note (you must be wo years old or older). Please send a message to this number 1-2136572441.

Selling cheap hey dudes. Advertising on youtube shorts. Linked to a website. Ordered shoes which were never delivered. Customer service doesnt respond.

I have received several letter in the mail from this company for a car that I do not have.

Hello! My name is Katherine from Pearl Talent. We were really impressed with your profile and would like to provide you the chance to take on a flexible remote position, you would assist merchants by updating their data, improving their visibility, and managing books effectively. You can work from anywhere for 60 to 90 minutes a day and earn anywhere from $200 to $500 each day, with a guaranteed $800 base every four days. There is a paid five-day trial period, and monthly earnings could exceed $5,000 with bonuses included. Comprehensive training and a full benefits package are included. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age. Don't miss out on limited availability! Text 'Yes' to 3055131510 to find out more.

Received Text message saying following: Hi, my name is Karina-Jo and I'm a Recruiter. We are currently looking for a part-time assistant to join our team. The online work hours are flexible and you can work remotely. This job only takes 1 hour per day to complete, can be done at any time and place, and the daily salary ranges from $100 to $300. You will be paid immediately at the end of each workday. All you need is a smartphone or computer to start working. You can even work on weekends or any free time. If you are interested, please contact me via WhatsApp: +12137226760 Note: You must be 22 years old or above

Hello! My name is Katherine from Pearl Talent. We were really impressed with your profile and would like to provide you the chance to take on a flexible remote role. In this position, you would assist merchants by updating their data, improving their visibility, and managing bookings effectively. You can work from anywhere for 60 to 90 minutes a day and earn anywhere from $200 to $500 each day, with a guaranteed $800 base every four days. There is a paid five-day trial period, and monthly earnings could exceed $5,000 with bonuses included. Comprehensive training and a full benefits package are included. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age. Don’t miss out on limited availability! Text 'Yes' to 6464239097 to find out more.

Searching for a chainsaw online, this site came up along with sites from walmart, home depot etc. Price was decent so i ordered it. Order was placed 6/1/25, tracking showed it being delivered but i never received it. Contacted customer service they reissued another order. Now its 8/1/25 and tracking shows the saw being delivered. No saw was delivered. This is track17 app, they must be in on the scam too.

Received this unsolicited text: Hello! My name is Katherine from Pearl Talent. We were really impressed with your profile and would like to provide you the chance to take on a flexible remote role. In this position, you would assist merchants by updating their data, improving their visibility, and managing bookings effectively. You can work from anywhere for 60 to 90 minutes a day and earn anywhere from $200 to $500 each day, with a guaranteed $800 base every four days. There is a paid five-day trial period, and monthly earnings could exceed $5,000 with bonuses included. Comprehensive training and a full benefits package are included. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age. Don’t miss out on limited availability! Text 'Yes' to 3472519904 to find out more.

I was misrouted to this phone number thinking it was Duke Energy. The person speaking repeatedly told me I had the correct phone number for Duke Energy and he was going to help me set up my electrical services. He collected my personal information including email, phone #, SS# and Drivers license #. He wanted a substantial deposit $375 and was very pushy with a sales pitch stating if I also signed up for the alarm system for the home they would cover the deposit. Upon continued questioning if this was Duke Energy the rep continued to say yes and did not identify that they were a separate company. He then transferred me to another "supervisor" who also claimed this was Duke Energy and continued to be pushy to the sale of the alarm system. I did not proceed giving them any financial information. I was able to sign up on line at Duke Energy official website for $0 deposit. This company is not truthful and it is concerning what they will do with my personal information.

They texted me a job offer and asked me to reply “yes” for more info

Hello! I'm Sophia from the Human Resources team at BambooHR, and your resume has been recommended by several online recruiting companies, so we're now recommending a high-paying remote job opportunity for you! This job requires no education or experience and can easily be done from home, working approximately 1 hour per day and paying $250-$3,000 per day and paid daily. Free training and health insurance are provided upon hire, as well as 15 to 30 days of paid annual leave (hiring requirements: age 23+). If you are interested, please write to me via WhatsApp or Telegram! WhatsApp :+13653635895 Telegram : @A462611

Deceptive marketing, hidden contracts, failure to deliver on service promises

I have gotten upwards of 100 phone calls and messages from multiple numbers telling me that one of our finance team members needs to call 833-727-6090 because we’ve been chosen for approval for something. When I call and asked to be taken off of the list it says that I will be taken off, but I’ve continued to get calls from this number from multiple numbers every day, all day. It sounds like a real person if I answer and when I call back.

Scammer started off by advertising an Air B&B online assistant hourly remote job, but when I was contacted through what’s app it wasn’t at all that job. It was actually uploading reviews for cars for commission which was limited to 33 generated cars a day. If you get into the negative they want you to use your own money to get out of the negative to continue to generate the rest of your reviews before they will pay you a $200 salary plus your measly little commission a day and they pay with crypto. So since I’m trying to earn money because I’m broke, I could and wouldn’t use my own money to get out of the negative. So basically that was the end of that. I paid them $20 through cashapp which did come up scam but was told that that’s how cashapp is. So these people are ripping people off that like me can’t even afford to live in this damn state and will be homeless soon. It was definitely too good to be true.

Remote job offer.

Kulani Kini ad on Instagram brought me to a website where they were having a bathing suit sale. I bought some bathing suits, and they were never delivered. I tried contacting the company and had no luck. I believe it was a scammer imitating the real Kulani Kini brand.

I gound a job listing to get paid to put a frito lay decal on my car so i applied. I got accepted then a couple days later which is today 07/31/2025 i received a check for 2400 i was to keep 1000 and send the rest via apple pay, zelle, bitcoin or cvs giftcard in order to pay for decal then the decal would be sent to me

LEGAL THREAT PHONE CALL!! I’ve been getting a lot of phone calls that I don’t answer cause I don’t know the number and this is the voicemail he left: My name is Bruce Eckford This is your official notification that you have been placed on my schedule to be served court sale documents You will be served either at your place of employment or place of residence Signature and two forms of identification will need to be presented For questions or to place a stop Action action Want to connect Phone operator or contact Filing party at 430-236-1327…”

Hello! My name is Katherine from Pearl Talent. We were really impressed with your profile and would like to provide you the chance to take on a flexible remote role. In this position, you would assist merchants by updating their data, improving their visibility, and managing bookings effectively. You can work from anywhere for 60 to 90 minutes a day and earn anywhere from $200 to $500 each day, with a guaranteed $800 base every four days. There is a paid five-day trial period, and monthly earnings could exceed $5,000 with bonuses included. Comprehensive training and a full benefits package are included. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age. Don’t miss out on limited availability! Text 'Yes' to 2623819768 to find out more.

we bought something that was not as the pictures made it look. it looks 3D  in the picture but it was just a flat plastic piece of a printed bird, not at all what we thought we were getting. when we tried to return it, it would cost us more then the object was worth because it would need to be sent to china.  when we wrote support they said they could send us $8 instead of the full amount

Seems like a legit site. Promoted by Google. After preorder product not shipped the link to track is no longer valid. Searching the company brings up multiple other scam complaints.

Email received: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 Bill Number: UNZ22660FT2663 McAfee Hey Info, This is your invoice for USD 387.44 regarding your upcoming McAfee plan renewal for the 36 Months subscription term. Invoice for Your Order- Item: FullScope Shield (865472) - Qty: x1 - Period: 36 Months - Billed Amount: USD 387.44 If you have questions, we're here at (865) 24O-5857. Thanks Gratitude,, McAfee, LLC.

I purchased a pair of sweatpants from this website that I never received it’s been over 5 months and I still haven’t gotten a single update

Hello! My name is Katherine from Pearl Talent. We were really impressed with your profile and would like to provide you the chance to take on a flexible remote role. In this position, you would assist merchants by updating their data, improving their visibility, and managing bookings effectively. You can work from anywhere for 60 to 90 minutes a day and earn anywhere from $200 to $500 each day, with a guaranteed $800 base every four days. There is a paid five-day trial period, and monthly earnings could exceed $5,000 with bonuses included. Comprehensive training and a full benefits package are included. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age. Don’t miss out on limited availability! Text 'Yes' to 3472514518 to find out more.

Text message job offer, too good to be true, so researched and realized it is a scam.

they advertise a beautiful wood production which has both names of the couple on it. the picture of the product was a solid wood carving of a couple and the base was also part of it. All varnish very nice. What you get was a cheap plastic production, in which you can't even read the names and you slip into a unfinish wood base. If you contact the company they won't respond back. but the website tells you, that you can return the product. It is all a scam.

Ad promised app, personalized system with tracking of progress. None of that was provided. Website only All info generic and same for all No progress tracker.

I was presented with a facebook ad from a clothing company Faherty. I went to the site and purchased items, then needed to use paypal to pay. I then realized after the payment was processed that it was a false site and not the true brand.

I just bot Very I received this text and it did not sound real so I googled it and found this information on it. I did not respond to it. But I am reporting it now. Thank you.

sold withe the advance logo, products not delivered as promised, 80% refund offered, just want product

foaec.store is a fake / scam website that is not safe to purchase from.

Cam to the house to look at roof put hole in roof with hamer. Showed pictures. Came the next day claim that the rafters where damaged and rotten and want $ 7000 cash to fix it

?ansas Departm?nt of Motor Veh?cles (DMV) Final Notice: ?nforcement Penalties ?egin on August 3. ??cording to our rec?rds, your traffic citation is y?t unpaid. Per K?nsas Law 15C-16.003, if unr??olved by August 2, 2025, th? p?nalties ?utlined will be ?nacted: 1. V??lation entered into DMV r?cords 2. Su?pen?ion of your v?hicle registration on August 3 3. 30-d?y su?pension ?f driver's licens? 4. Debt transferred to ?ollections (+35% charge) 5. ??ssible court ?ction and ?redit damage Pay immed?ately here: https://cutt.ly/grSHYC2H?fyJ=Kq44a?FXA=TceLJ

I was added to a group chat. The message has a legitimate looking image of the Kansas Department of Transportation logo. It read: Kansas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Final Notice: Enforcement Penalties Begin on August 3. According to our records, your traffic citation is yet unpaid. Per Kansas Law 15C-16.003, if unresolved by August 2, 2025, the penalties outlined will be enacted: 1. Violation entered into DMV records 2. Suspension of your vehicle registration on August 3 3. 30-day suspension of driver's license 4. Debt transferred to collections (35% charge) 5. Possible court action and credit damage Pay immediately here: https://cutt.ly/LrSJjBhx

I never signed up, never went to the website that was identified and then was charged $15/month for 4 months and unless I had called the company and gone through numerous hopes to talk with an agent and be placed in continual holds I would have never been refunded the dollars taken. Looks like a Russian company doing business in the U.S. READ YOUR MONTHLY CREDIT CARD STATEMENTS VERY CAREFULLY

They have been taking money out of my account recurring supposedly.

The $240.90 order charge is appreciated. Yahoo / Spam Kevin Langdon From: [email protected] Bcc: [email protected] Fri, Aug 1 at 8:58 AM Geek Squad Dear Customer, Your subscription with GEEK SQUAD will renew today, and $240.90 is about to be debited from your account by today. The debited amount will be reflected within the next 24hrs. In case of any further clarifications or block the auto-renewal service please reach out to our, Customer Help Center: 805-362-7529 Description: GEEK SQUAD Service Date: 08-01-2025 Quantity: One Year Subscription Customer ID: 86271547 Ref No.: JML5879-YRQ6304 Total: $240.90 If you didn't authorize this charge, you have 24 Hrs. To cancel & get an instant refund of your annual subscription, please contact our customer care: 805-362-7529 Regards, Kevin Langdon [email protected] GEEK SQUAD Team. Copyright © GEEK SQUAD Team | 2025

Elite Medical called stating that they received information from Medicare and that my elderly mom will be sent medical supplies at no cost. Then won't take no for an answer when informed we were not interested. This person had my mom's phone number and mailing address.

Fake PayPal warning, with phone number to call, number not associated with PayPal.

I looked up PECO Energy Company's phone number online and this number was the first result. I called the number and to verify my account they asked for my old address, my new address, and my social security company. I gave it to them and then the scammer stated that I could not start electricity services without paying a $275 deposit, I refused and asked to speak to a supervisor. The "supervisor" insisted that I pay, but I still refused so he hung up on me. At this point, I realized I had been scammed and when I looked up the number again, I couldn't find anything.

This is a website/app that provides rewards for completing activities such as, buying products, completing surveys, and playing games. Less than half the tasks I've completed have actually paid out the reward it advertised. Their business model is completely based on false advertising and when you report missing claims to them, their automated customer support system denies your claim. There's no way to actually get in touch with a human at the company.

Content below Received as text 08-01-25 @ 05:25 hours Hello, I'm Audrey from the Costco Recruiting team. Your profile caught our attention through multiple recruiting platforms and we believe you'd be a good fit for our current part-time remote job opportunity. This position focuses on helping merchants on Costco manage and update their product information to increase visibility and engagement. The hours are very flexible - just 60 to 90 minutes per day, 4 days per week. You can work anywhere and will be paid between $250 and $500 per day. The base pay is $1,000 per 4 working days. We also offer free training and 15 to 20 days of paid vacation per year in addition to all standard vacation days. The company currently has 20 vacancies, if you want to join us, please send a text message to 3216624719 for more information (Note: You must be 25 years old or older)

Ordered 2 authentic Labubu doll. After a month, received really bad fake dolls. Website is no longer online and email bounced back.

I received a job offer to be a secret shopper. I talked to Laura at 646-767-7679. She did not have an accent. She also texted me saying she would update me on the assignment. She said I would be receiving instructions in the mail. I received a 3-page packet, with instructions on how and where to purchase gift cards along with a $1900 check through UPS. the last page was a Feedback Form to evaluate the service in the stores. I was told to take pictures and text them back to her. I deposited the check into my credit union account, withdrew the money and purchased Sephora and Apple gift cards. Now I have to pay the credit union back the money. It was mailed from: ******, Atlanta, GA 30318-5557.

Free subsidy money for life insurance. I was to answer no to receiving ssi benefits to be eligible to receive this free money. They had my name and address and phone number.

They are attempting to get information but I’m suspicious therefore am not responding

I contacted a phone number I believed was for Royal Caribbean to update the date of birth on an existing cruise reservation. The person who answered claimed to be a Royal Caribbean representative. They told me that before any changes could be made to my reservation, I needed to pay port fees. Although this seemed unusual, I proceeded because I thought I was speaking with an official representative. While on the call, they placed me on hold and said they were making the updates to my reservation. When they returned, they confirmed the changes had been made, which led me to believe the process was legitimate. Later, I tried to call the same number back using the extension I had been given, but no one answered. I then looked up a different number for Royal Caribbean and spoke with a verified representative. I was informed that: 1. There were no payments or updates recorded on my reservation. 2. Royal Caribbean staff do not have direct extensions. 3. They have received multiple reports of fraudulent companies falsely claiming to be Royal Caribbean. It is now clear I was misled by a company impersonating Royal Caribbean. This charge was made under false pretenses, and I am requesting a full reversal of the payment.

Text from long number stating if I don't pay my outstanding tickets they will be forced to suspend my license. They said they were from the Nevada department of motor vehicles. They want you to copy and paste their link into a browser. They used the phone number: +63 999-672-9158 and the link (do not copy and paste link) as https://nevada.sim-daix.vip/nv