A step-by-step guide to tracing stolen Bitcoin, Ethereum, or XRP, flagging it with exchanges, and reporting it to the FBI — while recovery is still possible.
Time-sensitive
Stolen crypto is most recoverable before the thief cashes out at an exchange. Every hour the funds sit un-moved is in your favor — act today.
If cryptocurrency was stolen from your wallet — through a fake support call, a phishing site that captured your recovery phrase, or an approved malicious transaction — the funds are traceable on the public blockchain. You can't reverse the transaction, but you can trace where the money went, flag it so exchanges freeze it on cash-out, and build the evidence law enforcement needs.
—1. Trace the thief's wallet
Every blockchain transaction is public and permanent. Look up the wallet the funds went to: its current balance, whether it has moved, and — critically — whether it has reached an exchange yet. If it hasn't cashed out, your recovery window is open.
Use the toolTrace a walletCrypto Wallet Tracker→—2. Screen the address
Check the destination address against sanctions and known-scam databases. A hit strengthens your case and tells investigators who they're dealing with.
Use the toolScreen a crypto addressCrypto Address Risk Checker→—3. Flag it with exchanges — fast
Contact the major exchanges' compliance/fraud teams with the thief's wallet address and the theft transaction. If those funds are ever deposited to their platform, they can flag and freeze them. This is the single most important step for recovery.
—4. Report to the FBI and file a forensic report
File a complaint at the FBI's IC3 (ic3.gov) with the theft transaction, both wallet addresses, and the USD value at the time. Our Forensic Report Generator assembles all of this into a document you can attach.
Use the toolBuild a forensic reportForensic Report Generator→Avoid the second scam
Do NOT pay a 'crypto recovery service.' Legitimate recovery happens through law enforcement and exchanges. Anyone promising to get your crypto back for an upfront fee is running a follow-up scam that targets people who were just victimized.
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