Reporting · International; exchange policies differ
How to report a crypto scam to an exchange
Prepare a concise exchange fraud report with the records support teams can use, without handing over wallet secrets.
By Stonebridge Resolution · Published 4 October 2026 · Updated 4 October 2026
AI-generated illustration; not a depiction of a real case.
The short answer
Use the exchange's independently verified support channel, identify the relevant account and transactions, and ask what preservation or fraud-response steps are available. An exchange report complements, rather than replaces, a police report.
Find the genuine support route
Open the exchange app you already trust or type its official domain yourself. Avoid sponsored recovery ads, replies beneath social posts and direct messages from supposed exchange investigators.
A scammer may imitate both the investment platform and the team handling complaints about it. Before uploading evidence, verify that you are on the actual service's website. Never allow remote access or disclose a recovery phrase to 'speed up verification'.
Make the first message easy to assess
Start with a short explanation: what happened, when you realised it was fraud, and whether an account takeover or a deception-induced payment was involved. State whether funds may still be moving.
List each affected transaction with its asset, network, amount, timestamp, destination and hash or internal transfer reference. Include your police reference if you already have one, but do not delay an urgent report while waiting for it.
Explain what the exchange actually controls
A sending exchange may hold your account and withdrawal records. A receiving exchange may control a destination account, if the attribution is correct. Neither can automatically retrieve funds from every external wallet.
Ask the service to preserve relevant records and advise on the procedure for law-enforcement enquiries. It may be unable to disclose another customer's identity to you. That restriction is not evidence that the complaint has been ignored.
Track the response without expecting a guarantee
Save the ticket number, acknowledgement, dates and any requests for more information. Reply in the existing thread when possible and provide new facts rather than repeatedly resending the whole story.
An exchange may restrict assets only under particular conditions, and funds may already have moved. Continue bank disputes and official crime reporting in parallel. A support acknowledgement is not confirmation that funds are frozen or that reimbursement has been approved.
Checklist
- Verify the exchange domain independently.
- Prepare transaction identifiers and a short factual summary.
- Ask about record preservation and police-request procedures.
- Keep the ticket number and originals.
Common questions
Will the exchange tell me who owns the receiving wallet?
Usually not simply on request. Privacy law, account records and lawful disclosure procedures determine what it can share.
Should I pay exchange support to open a fraud ticket?
An unsolicited request for crypto to investigate or release funds is a warning sign. Verify all instructions inside the genuine service.