What is the Reclaim Crypto project?
The Reclaim Crypto project is a shared intelligence and asset tracing service dedicated to victims of cybercrimes and companies related to asset recovery. We connect the victims of cybercrimes with our investigation partners that may be willing to help to recover the stolen cryptocurrency in the future. Reclaim Crypto may assist the investigation partners in the process of the recovery of lost assets with the use of our superior asset tracing technology. However, we cannot guarantee that investigation partners may be willing to conduct an end-to-end investigation and asset recovery of any particular case. The reported stolen funds may be traced via our algorithms. Reclaim Crypto may add the reported fraudulent addresses to its database. Once we flag the hackers’/scammers' addresses in our database, it will be visible to our clients and partners. Additionally, Reclaim Crypto may issue an alert to blockchain services (i.e. exchanges) receiving stolen funds.
Why is it worth submitting a claim?
Three simple reasons:
1. Your claim will be visible to our global network of investigators that may contact you and help to recover the stolen cryptocurrency in the future.
2. The reported fraudster address may be added to the Reclaim Crypto database. Once we flag the hackers’/scammers' addresses in our database, it will be visible to our clients and partners. For example – the exchange that is our client can identify the hacker's address (provided by a hacking victim to our service) and take decisive action e.g. freeze the funds.
3. Reclaim Crypto may also identify that the stolen funds were transferred from scammers' address to the cryptocurrency exchange that is our client or partner and may send a notification informing the exchange that the funds came from a hack/scam and ask them to freeze the funds.
What do you mean by saying that the reported fraudster address may be flagged in Reclaim Crypto's database?
The Reclaim Crypto service enables the victims of cybercrimes to not only add their claims to the investigators panel but also flag the reported address(es) in Reclaim Crypto's database. Once we flag the hackers’/scammers' addresses in our database, it will be visible to our clients and partners. For example – the exchange that is our client can identify the hacker's address (provided by a hacking victim to our service) and take decisive action e.g. freeze the funds. Reclaim Crypto may also identify that the stolen funds were transferred from scammers' address to the cryptocurrency exchange that is our client or partner and may send a notification informing the exchange that the funds came from a hack/scam and ask them to freeze the funds.
How fast you will flag the hacker/scammer address in your database?
Due to a significant number of submitted claims, we are not able to specify when or if the reported address will be added to our database. We also cannot guarantee that we will notify the reporter about adding his/her address to our database.
How does the process of submitting the claim and the future actions from the investigator's side work in practice?
1. The claimant should submit their email address on our website reclaimcrypto.com
2. The Reclaim Crypto team will send the link with the invitation to our ServiceDesk (from email address: [email protected]), where the claimant should fill out the Detailed Reclaim Form.
3. After filling the Detailed Reclaim Form, the claim will have the status "received". The claim will be visible for the investigation partners that may be willing to assist the claimant in the recovery of the stolen cryptocurrency in the future. Once they decide that they can help recover the lost assets, they will contact the claimant via the Reclaim Crypto Service Desk.
Reclaim Crypto may contact the claimant in order to obtain additional information/documents related to the submitted claim. Any further contact from our end or our investigation partners end is not guaranteed.
What are the chances that the investigators would like to help recover my stolen cryptocurrency?
Once the claim has a status 'received', it will be visible to Reclaim Crypto investigator partners. Cases with losses above $500K and where a claimant provided all requested evidence, are most likely to be investigated. However, it is possible that the investigators would like to file a class action and collect a large number of claims from one certain scam. Therefore, even reclaiming the assets of small-value cases may be successful in the future.
Why are stolen crypto-assets difficult to recover?
Please note that Reclaim Crypto is a technology company that uses its developed solutions to trace the paths of lost assets. To successfully recover the stolen crypto the victim of the crime needs to cooperate with legal offices and the companies that can conduct the end-to-end process of recovery such as Reclaim Crypto's investigation partners.
Please note that recovery of stolen cryptocurrency is a complex process and it requires the cooperation of legal offices, law enforcement, asset recovery companies (often from different and/or various jurisdictions). The whole process includes not only asset tracking, but depending on the case, it may also consist of evidencing misappropriated funds, reaching out to other victims of the same case, creating and filing a class action, on site investigations, screening of computers and servers, supporting law enforcement activities, conducting interviews and open business intelligence research, and recovery. Even when the total loss is equal to a couple of bitcoins, the case may not be feasible due to the very high costs of the litigation process.
Guidance on filling out the Detailed Reclaim Form
Why is the process of recovering stolen crypto assets so difficult, time-consuming, expensive, and complex?
- Cryptocurrency crimes are characterized by their anonymity. The vast majority of cryptocurrency addresses are anonymous. This means that that the names of their owners are unknown.
- Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum do not have issuers like in the case of fiat currency or stocks and bonds. The decentralized structure lets them exist outside the control of governments and any other authorities (e.g. central banks).
- To track the lost cryptocurrency on the blockchain, the fraud investigators need to use a special technology as the virtual assets can very quickly transfer from one address to another. Additionally, the illicit actors use a special service like Mixers/Tumblers to hide the true origin of the funds.
- Traditional law enforcement agencies (police, prosecutor's office) may have difficulties in finding the perpetrators of the crypto scam or hack and recovering the lost assets due to the complexity of crypto crimes and their cross-border nature.
- In the process of recovering lost cryptocurrencies, parties from different jurisdictions that have various legal frameworks are involved, which makes the process even more complicated, longer, and expensive.
Can I find a recovering crypto agency that will quickly return my lost cryptocurrency?
We warn you against companies that promise you a fast return of your lost cryptocurrency. Very often the entities that claim a quick recovery of your stolen assets are scams. Remember that crypto scams and hack are crimes, and they need to be reported to the police. The recovering agency that offers you help should be willing to cooperate with law enforcement bodies.
Where can I find help if I am a victim of a crypto scam/hack?
Please note that all crimes should always be reported to the relevant law enforcement body (e.g., police, prosecutors' office). If you are a victim of a wallet/exchange account hack, please immediately report this event to your wallet/exchange support. Please be careful and pay attention that you report the hack to the official support. Remember that the employees of the support would never ask you to provide your private key or login details. Please be aware of fake support that promises to recover your funds after you pay some amount of crypto. Official support of any exchange or wallet provider would never ask you to do this.
Below are the links to respective government and law enforcement agencies where you can find help in case you find yourself a victim of cybercrime
· If you are UK Citizen
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/
https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/crime-info/types-crime/cyber-crime
· If you are EU Citizen
https://www.europol.europa.eu/report-a-crime/report-cybercrime-online
· If you are US Citizen
How to avoid being scammed?
- Do not trust the investing websites offering you quick and large returns – most of them are scams.
- Download your wallet updates or IOS/Android apps only from trusted websites and sources. Please always check twice if you are downloading the updates or app from a legitimate source. Be aware that even trusted sources, like official app stores, may be used by hackers.
- Do not provide anyone with the private key or login credentials to your wallet or exchange account – always keep it safe,- preferentially off the internet and off digital devices.
- Be aware of newly met investors who offer you fast and effective profits. Please note that there are many accounts of fake cryptocurrency traders on LinkedIn, Instagram, Telegram or Facebook.
- Be aware of newly met people on dating apps that promise you fast and effective profits. Many of them are scammers and pretend to be people they are not.