Crypto Scam
Recovery
If your cryptocurrency was stolen, drained from your wallet, or trapped on an exchange that will not let you withdraw, the response window is short. Most recoverable cases are decided in the first 72 hours.
What "crypto scam recovery" actually means
Crypto scam recovery is the structured process of tracing stolen on-chain assets, engaging the exchanges and custodians touched by the funds, and coordinating with law enforcement to freeze, recover, or compensate where possible. It is not "hacking your funds back" — that is not how blockchains work, and any service promising that is itself a scam.
The scams we see most frequently fall into four buckets: wallet drainers (a malicious dApp or signed transaction empties your wallet), exchange compromises (the platform itself was breached or your account was taken over), investment fraud (a platform that takes deposits but blocks withdrawals — also called "pig butchering"), and address-poisoning attacks (you sent funds to a spoofed address that looks like one of your own).
Each category has different recovery paths. The first job is to identify which one you are in.
Signs you have been scammed
- Wallet balance changed without you signing a transaction
- Funds left a centralized exchange while you were locked out of the account
- A platform that took your deposit is now refusing or delaying withdrawals
- You sent crypto to an address copied from your own history that turned out to be a near-look-alike
- A counterparty you met online encouraged you to deposit on a specific platform and is now unreachable
- You received an unsolicited "support" call or DM about a transaction you did not make
What to do right now
Stop transferring anything
Do not send more funds — not to "verify" recovery, not to "release" your balance, not for any "tax" or "fee." Every additional dollar sent is irrecoverable. The scammer counts on you trying to break even.
Preserve every artifact
Screenshot the platform, your account page, every chat message, every email, every transaction hash. Keep your wallet seed phrase off the device until a specialist clears it. Evidence is the currency of recovery.
File official reports immediately
File at IC3.gov (FBI) and report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If a centralized exchange is involved, open a fraud ticket there too — exchanges can sometimes freeze the destination address if reported within hours.
Engage qualified help
On-chain tracing requires forensic tooling and exchange relationships most consumers do not have access to. A qualified responder can map the destination addresses, identify the off-ramp, and coordinate the freeze request.
How 911Cyber works your case
911Cyber's response begins with triage: we map every transaction in and out of the compromised wallet or account, identify which on/off-ramps the funds touched, and assess realistic recovery paths.
Where the trail leads to a regulated exchange or custodian, we coordinate the legal-process freeze request. Where the trail leads to mixers or non-cooperating jurisdictions, we are honest with you about the prognosis — we do not bill for hopeless cases.
We also harden what is left: cold-storage migration, hardware-wallet setup, transaction signing hygiene, and exchange-account lockdown so the same vector cannot be used twice.
Frequently asked questions
Can stolen cryptocurrency actually be recovered?
Sometimes. Cases where funds reach a regulated exchange and a freeze can be requested within hours have the highest probability of partial recovery. Cases where funds are mixed, bridged to privacy chains, or moved to non-cooperating jurisdictions are much harder. We assess your specific case before quoting any expectations.
How fast do I need to act?
The first 24 to 72 hours matter most. After funds clear a mixer or off-ramp, the legal mechanisms for freezing them become harder to use. Engaging help on day one is materially different from engaging on day ten.
Should I pay a service that promises guaranteed recovery?
No. "Guaranteed recovery" services are themselves a well-documented secondary scam targeting victims. No legitimate firm can promise outcomes on a case they have not assessed. We do not.
What does 911Cyber charge for a crypto case?
Pricing depends on the scope (single wallet vs. multi-exchange, jurisdictions involved, evidence package needed). Starting cases get an initial triage consultation at no cost so you can decide whether to proceed.
Will law enforcement help me?
Yes — and an IC3 filing is essential — but federal investigators prioritize large-scale cases. Most individual recoveries happen through civil and exchange-side mechanisms that run in parallel with the IC3 report, not because of it.
Related response services
Crypto Exchange Breach Response
We secure compromised exchange accounts and prevent asset drainage.
Cold Wallet Security Audit
We harden hardware wallets and strictly secure seed phrase storage.
Wire Transfer Intercept Recovery (BEC)
We execute tactical responses to rerouted business payments.
NFT Theft & Marketplace Recovery
We rigorously track and attempt recovery of stolen digital assets.
Talk to a crypto-incident specialist now
Triage consultation is free. The earlier we look at your case, the more options remain on the table.