What to do if you sent crypto
Crypto scams fool smart, careful people every day. It is not your fault. Crypto payments usually cannot be undone, but acting now gives you the best chance.
Do these steps in order
0 of 6 done
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Do this now Contact the crypto app or Bitcoin ATM company now
Use the company's official app, or the name and contact details on your receipt or the machine. Don't search online for a support number. Scammers post fake ones. Tell them it was fraud and ask for a refund. Some states have laws that may help.
What to say: “I was scammed. This payment was fraud. Please stop or reverse it and refund me.”
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Do this now Call your bank if the money came from there
Did you buy the crypto with your bank account or card? Call the number on the back of your card. Tell them the money went to a scam and ask if they can stop it or help.
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Stop all contact and do not send more
Scammers often stay on the phone and give step-by-step orders. Hang up. Do not send more money or crypto, for any reason.
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Keep your receipts and payment details
Save every ATM receipt and screenshot. Write down the amount, the date, and the transaction ID (often on the receipt). Also write down the wallet address (the long code you sent the crypto to) and where the ATM was. You will need this for your reports.
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Change passwords if they got into your accounts
If someone you know or live with may have set this up, removing it or signing them out can alert them. If you’re worried about your safety, talk to a domestic violence advocate before you change anything. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is free and open any time: call 800-799-7233 or chat at thehotline.org. If you can, use a phone or computer they can’t check.
Did you share a code or password, or let them on your computer? Change your crypto and email passwords from a different device. Turn on two-step sign-in.
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File a police report and an FBI report
The FBI asks Bitcoin ATM scam victims to report it to their local police and to the FBI at IC3.gov. Bring your receipts and notes.
Follow up later
- Tomorrow: call back and ask for your case or claim number. Write it down.
- In 30 days: look at your bank and card statements for anything you don’t know.
Keep your place
To keep your place, bookmark this page or copy your private link.
Keep the link private. It shows the steps you’ve ticked. Never send it to anyone who calls, texts, or emails you. Latchstring will never ask for it. Your browser’s history also keeps this address, and may copy it to your Google or Apple account if you sync. On a shared phone or computer, use a private window, or clear your history afterward.
Did any of these happen too?
- I sent money by bank, Zelle, wire, Western Union, or MoneyGram
- I paid with an app like Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal
- I paid with a credit or debit card
- I paid with gift cards
- I gave cash, gold, or my cards to someone
- I deposited a check and sent money back
- I shared a code or password
- My phone suddenly has no service
- My email or social media account was hacked
- I let someone into my computer or phone
- Someone is using my name, or I gave out my Social Security number
Then, report it and get free help
- Report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (Federal Trade Commission).
- Also report it to the FBI at IC3.gov, even if it started with a phone call or a visit.
- Get a free recovery plan from a real person: call or text 888-400-5530 (Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit).
- Age 60 or older? Call the Justice Department’s National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311 for free help reporting it. Mon–Fri, 10 am–6 pm Eastern.
- Feeling overwhelmed? Call or text 988, any time.
Watch for a second scam. Anyone who contacts you offering to get your money back for a fee, a code, your bank details, or access to your phone or computer is a scammer, even if they say they’re the FBI, the FTC, a lawyer, or us. Don’t search online for a company’s phone number either. Scammers post fake ones.
This guide was last checked in October 2026. Sources: