Reporting · United States reporting channel; IC3 also accepts international complaints
How to report a crypto scam to the FBI's IC3
Prepare transaction details, save your complaint at submission and understand what an IC3 report can—and cannot—do.
By Stonebridge Resolution · Published 4 October 2026 · Updated 4 October 2026
AI-generated illustration; not a depiction of a real case.
The short answer
Submit a factual complaint through the official IC3 website with payment details, relevant addresses and a clear timeline. IC3 is an intake and referral channel, not a guarantee of an investigation or individual fund recovery.
Prepare the facts before opening the form
Gather your contact information, the subject's known identifiers, websites, payment amounts and dates, and the sequence of events. For crypto, include asset, network, transaction hash and sending and receiving addresses where known.
Explain what you know directly and what you only suspect. A wallet label from an explorer is not the same as confirmed ownership. Accurate uncertainty is more useful than confident speculation.
Write a concise narrative
Describe first contact, the promised investment or service, payment instructions, actual transfers and the point when you recognised the scam. Identify any continuing threat or ongoing loss.
Keep claimed platform profits separate from your actual payments. If money was returned, record it separately. This helps prevent the complaint from overstating the loss or obscuring which transfers investigators should examine.
Retain supporting records outside the submission
IC3's FAQ says the complaint system does not accept attachments. Preserve original messages, email headers, receipts, statements and screenshots securely so they are available if an investigator requests them.
Do not paste passwords, private keys or recovery phrases into the complaint. Transaction identifiers and a description of the compromise provide evidence without handing over control of accounts.
Save a copy when you submit
Follow the site's instructions to print or save your complaint at submission. IC3 explains that it does not provide a later copy on request through its ordinary process, so do not assume you can return to an account dashboard to retrieve it.
Keep the complaint confirmation with your evidence and any bank or exchange references. If you need to submit additional information, follow IC3's current FAQ instructions and reference the earlier complaint where possible rather than assuming you can edit the original.
Continue urgent provider reports in parallel
IC3 reviews and refers information as appropriate, but not every complainant receives a personal response or status update. Submission does not guarantee that a particular agency will investigate or freeze funds.
Notify banks and exchanges directly without waiting for an IC3 reply. For immediate danger, use emergency services; an online complaint is not an emergency-response channel. Independently verify anyone claiming to be an investigator who contacts you afterward.
Checklist
- Prepare a factual timeline and transaction list.
- Use the official ic3.gov site.
- Retain attachments securely outside the form.
- Save the complaint at submission and notify providers separately.
Common questions
Can I upload screenshots to IC3?
IC3's FAQ says attachments are not accepted with the complaint. Keep the originals ready for a verified investigative request.
Will IC3 tell me the investigation status?
IC3 does not provide routine individual status updates. A report is not a promise of investigation or recovery.