Services offering to recover stolen cryptocurrency are scams (2024)

Crypto recovery services that offer to recover stolen cryptocurrency no longer in your wallet are scams. Getting that stolen crypto back is nearly impossible.

Services offering to recover stolen cryptocurrency are scams (1) Services offering to recover stolen cryptocurrency are scams (2)

Credit: Mountains Hunter - stock.adobe.com

The value of all existing cryptocurrency is $2.33 trillion, according to Bankrate. Cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, is a digital currency created using encryption algorithms, Oswego State University of New York says.

Using a cryptocurrency requires some kind of cryptocurrency “wallet,” which is where you store your encryption keys that confirm your identity and link to your cryptocurrency. The wallet is software that can be stored in a cloud, on your computer, or on your mobile device, Oswego State University of New York says.

If you lose access to your crypto wallet, you lose your entire cryptocurrency investment. There’s also the risk that your cryptocurrency can be stolen through hackers or scammers. Coindesk says people who use cryptocurrencies lost $2 billion to hacks and scams in 2023.

Nicholas emailed VERIFY to ask if there are any legitimate services that offer to help people recover stolen cryptocurrency.

THE QUESTION

Can crypto recovery services actually recover stolen cryptocurrency?

THE SOURCES

THE ANSWER

Services offering to recover stolen cryptocurrency are scams (3)

No, crypto recovery services cannot actually recover stolen cryptocurrency.

WHAT WE FOUND

Crypto recovery services that offer to recover lost or stolen cryptocurrency are scams. While there are a few legitimate companies that can help you with account or technology issues, those companies will not offer to recover stolen funds.

Sometimes, scammers will try to convince you they can get your money back by impersonating the government, a company or any other organizations. Others may be able to trace where the lost cryptocurrency went, but will have no way of actually recovering your lost assets as promised, the New Jersey Department of Justice says.

Typically, the scammer will reach out to you over social media, email, a messaging app or will bait you into contacting them through a seemingly legitimate advertisem*nt or website, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) says.

“At first, the scammer will appear to be knowledgeable, organized, and trustworthy while convincing you they can get all your money back,” the New Jersey Department of Justice says. “They will either ask for a fee for their services or ask for your financial information to put the lost funds back into your account. Either of these will result in further losses that are largely irreversible.”

The New Jersey Department of Justice recommends you do not pay anyone who contacts you with an offer to recover any money you’ve lost in a scam. The FBI says not to share any financial or personal identifying information and to not send any money if an unknown individual contacts you and claims to be able to recover your stolen cryptocurrency.

Legitimate crypto recovery companies offer password and data recovery services or help regaining access to your crypto wallet, Aura and Bitdefender, both cybersecurity companies, say. This may include recovering the wallet’s data from a broken or damaged storage device, decrypting encrypted wallets or recovering lost passwords. These companies will only charge you after they’ve successfully recovered your wallet.

“It's important to note that legitimate recovery services will never promise to recover your lost or stolen Bitcoin because it's nearly impossible,” Bitdefender says. “Scammers, on the other hand, may make such promises and ask for an upfront fee because they know they cannot deliver.”

The only time you might be contacted about legitimate restitution is if you're part of a government investigation or legal proceeding. In these situations, you would receive a letter in the mail. The CFTC has tips for verifying this type of mailing here.

If you do fall for this scam, the CFTC recommends you notify local, state and federal law enforcement and regulatory agencies, including the CFTC.

  • Viral video of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen talking about crypto is a satirical deepfake
  • No, phone calls offering a 50% Spectrum discount through Target are not legit
  • Viral photo of battered 2-year-old is part of a bait-and-switch scam

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Services offering to recover stolen cryptocurrency are scams (2024)

FAQs

Services offering to recover stolen cryptocurrency are scams? ›

It's important to note that legitimate recovery services will never promise to recover your lost or stolen Bitcoin because it's nearly impossible. Scammers, on the other hand, may make such promises and ask for an upfront fee because they know they cannot deliver.

Are crypto recovery services legit? ›

Unfortunately, as I've mentioned before, crypto recovery service scams are pretty common. In order to avoid being scammed, pay attention to the following red flags: Don't trust companies that ask for fees before providing help - no serious recovery service will ask for money before knowing they will assist you.

Is it possible to recover scammed crypto? ›

Recovering funds lost in a cryptocurrency scam is difficult, but not impossible. There have been instances where victims have successfully retrieved their lost funds, though these cases are relatively rare and often involve a combination of legal action, cooperation with exchanges, and advanced blockchain forensics.

Is there a reputable bitcoin recovery service? ›

No, for the same reason there's no reputable cash recovery service. Bitcoin recovery services, often marketed as a way to help individuals regain access to lost or inaccessible Bitcoin holdings, should be approached with caution. Many of these services might not be trustworthy, and some could even be scams.

Can you get your money back if you get scammed on crypto? ›

Cryptocurrency payments typically are not reversible. Once you pay with cryptocurrency, you can only get your money back if the person you paid sends it back. But contact the company you used to send the money and tell them it was a fraudulent transaction.

How can I recover my stolen Bitcoin from an online scammer immediately? ›

Best Ways To Recover Funds From Crypto and Bitcoin Scam
  1. Maintaining Calm and Composure. ...
  2. Documenting the Incident. ...
  3. Contacting the Authorities. ...
  4. Utilizing blockchain analysis tools.

Is stolen crypto recoverable? ›

Full recovery: Unfortunately, full recovery of scammed crypto is not guaranteed. Scammers often move stolen funds quickly across complex networks, making them difficult to trace. Prevention is critical: While recovery is challenging, prevention is crucial.

Can you trace a crypto scammer? ›

Blockchain intelligence software can gather ownership attribution details for analysis. While this information rarely reveals the personal identities of individual offenders, it can highlight key associations with criminal organisations or fraudulent schemes.

Do banks refund scammed money? ›

While banks are generally obligated to refund money lost to fraud, they may deny the refund if you were negligent or involved in the scam.

Can you report stolen cryptocurrency? ›

Let's start with the basics: Do you even need to report stolen or lost cryptocurrency on your taxes? The short answer is yes, you should report it. Here's why: The IRS considers cryptocurrency to be property, meaning it is subject to capital gains taxes.

Which cryptocurrency recovery firms do not ask upfront fees? ›

Proven Success: With a track record of successful recoveries, RSB stands as a trusted partner for victims of crypto scams, offering hope and tangible solutions. No Upfront Fees: RSB believes in prioritizing the interests of victims by offering recovery services without any upfront fees, ensuring accessibility to all.

How can I secure my Bitcoin wallet and recover lost Bitcoin? ›

The two main ways are through manual backups and cloud backups. The latter is newer, and easier to use. Use the multichain Bitcoin.com Wallet featuring cloud backup, the easiest and one of the safest ways to ensure you never lose access to your crypto.

What is the safest Bitcoin company? ›

Best Most Secure Bitcoin and Crypto Exchanges in 2024
  • #1. Binance. 4.83 / 5. promotions. ...
  • #2. Blockchain.com. 4.83 / 5. promotions. ...
  • #3. LBank. 4.83 / 5. promotions. ...
  • #4. Binance TR. 4.67 / 5. promotions. ...
  • #5. BitMEX. 4.67 / 5. promotions. ...
  • #6. MEXC. 4.67 / 5. promotions. ...
  • #7. Okcoin. 4.67 / 5. promotions. ...
  • #8. OKX. 4.67 / 5. promotions.

How to recover crypto from a scammer? ›

Blockchain analysis plays a crucial role in crypto scam recovery by tracing transactions. By examining the blockchain, experts can follow the flow of funds from the victim to the scammer. This process helps identify potential avenues for recovering stolen cryptocurrency.

How to track down someone who scammed you? ›

Contact details. Even fake names, accounts, and spoofed emails and phone numbers can help investigators track down scammers. Conversations. Take screenshots of texts and social media messages — especially anything that may help identify the scammer.

How to recover stolen cryptocurrency from trust wallet? ›

Choose "Import or recover wallet" so you can use the secret phrase from earlier. Set your desired password and type the secret phrase backup. Toggle the coins/tokens if necessary (follow the guide at “How to add a coin/token?”) or add it as a custom token so you can check your balance.

Can you recover money lost in crypto? ›

With the asset recovery service, verified Coinbase customers can now recover lost funds for certain ERC-20 assets and send them to a self-custodial wallet of their choice.

How do you know if you are being crypto scammed? ›

Promise of very high returns – Scams offer big profits from an investment. These are often unrealistic. Real-looking fake apps or companies – Fake apps and websites impersonating genuine firms, or real-looking made-up companies that try to win your trust. Both of these can be used to steal personal details or money.

What happens if you lose your crypto recovery phrase? ›

Here's what will happens: Lost access to funds: The recovery phrase is essentially the key that grants you access to your cryptocurrency holdings on the Ledger. Without it, you cannot access your funds.

Is there really such a thing as crypto addiction? ›

The symptoms and signs of crypto addiction are comparable to other behavioral addictions, such as gambling addiction. Common behaviors may include: Increasing trading risks without increasing research or knowledge. Seeming obsessed with everything crypto-related.

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