Take a breath. Here is what to do, one step at a time. Nobody can promise to get your money back, but these steps protect you from losing more.
What to do now
Stop sending money. Do not send any more crypto or cash, even if they say one last payment will fix everything.
Do not pay any 'fee' to withdraw. If a website or person says you must pay a fee, tax, or deposit to get your money out, that is part of the scam. Paying will not unlock anything. They will ask for more.
Write down what happened. Write down what happened while you still remember. Save the wallet addresses, transaction IDs (the long code for each payment), dates, amounts, screenshots, the website or app name, and the chat usernames. Keep it all in one place. You will need it for your reports.
Tell the exchange, if you used one. If you bought or sent crypto through an exchange (a company that sells crypto), tell its official support what happened. Open its own app, or type its address yourself. Do not use a phone number or link from a search ad or a message.
Report it to the authorities. Reporting is free. It helps police connect cases and warn others. Use the official service for your country below.
If you signed something in your wallet, check your approvals. An approval is a permission that lets a website take your tokens later. Open your wallet's own approvals screen, or type revoke.cash yourself, and cancel (revoke) any you do not recognize. Never use a revoke link someone sends you.
Watch out for recovery scams. Soon, people may contact you offering to get your money back for a fee. They may say they are lawyers, investigators, or police. The FBI says: "Law enforcement does not charge victims a fee for investigating crimes" (FBI IC3 alert, August 2023). A paid recovery offer is almost always a second scam.
Talk to someone you trust. Tell a friend or family member. Scammers often ask you to keep things secret. Talking helps you think clearly, and it can stop the next scam.
It is not your fault. These scams are run by professional criminals. They practice on thousands of people. Smart, careful people get fooled every day. You did the right thing by looking for help.
Where to report
United States:FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) — The main US place to report a crypto scam or theft. It is free. IC3 says it will never contact you directly for information or money.
United States:FTC ReportFraud — Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission too. Use it alongside IC3.
Canada:Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre — Report online, or call 1-888-495-8501 (weekdays). The centre also says to contact your local police.
Australia:Scamwatch — Run by the ACCC. If money was stolen, the page also points you to a police report.