How do I report a scam to a cryptocurrency exchange?
Contact the exchange's fraud or security team immediately with wallet addresses and transaction IDs. Some exchanges can freeze funds or assist law enforcement if you act within hours.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
If you used a regulated cryptocurrency exchange such as Coinbase, Binance, Kraken, or similar to send funds that turned out to be part of a scam, contact the exchange's fraud team as quickly as possible. Find their official support or security contact on the exchange's verified website, not from a Google search or email link.
Provide the exchange with the exact wallet address you sent funds to, the transaction ID (TXID), the date and time of the transaction, and a description of the fraud. Explain that you believe you were a victim of fraud and request that they flag the receiving address. Some exchanges have relationships with law enforcement and can assist with account freezes if the funds have not yet left the platform.
All regulated cryptocurrency exchanges in the US are required to file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) with FinCEN when they suspect fraud or money laundering. Your report to the exchange may trigger this process. In the UK, exchanges regulated under the FCA similarly have reporting obligations to the National Crime Agency.
Also report the wallet addresses to the blockchain analysis services that exchanges use, such as Chainalysis and Elliptic, via their public reporting tools. These firms maintain blocklists of known fraud addresses that are used by exchanges and law enforcement globally.
Common red flags
- The destination wallet address appeared in known scam databases
- You were instructed to use a specific exchange you had never heard of
- The exchange's website had an unusual domain spelling or was recently registered
- Withdrawal from the platform required 'tax clearance' payments
- Customer support was only available via Telegram or WhatsApp, not official channels
- Account balances showed large profits that could never be withdrawn
What to do now
- Contact the exchange's official fraud team immediately with transaction details
- Report to the FBI IC3 and the FTC
- Report the wallet address to blockchain analysis firms if they have public reporting tools
- Do not make any further deposits to the platform
- Preserve all screenshots, emails, and transaction records
- Read /scams/crypto-web3-scams for exchange fraud patterns
Frequently asked questions
Can an exchange freeze funds sent to a scam wallet?
Only if the receiving account is on the same exchange and the funds have not yet been moved to an external wallet. Once funds leave the exchange's ecosystem, the exchange has no control over them.
Should I report to multiple exchanges if the funds passed through several?
Yes. Report to every exchange that handled the funds. Each exchange may hold different information and have different legal obligations depending on their regulatory jurisdiction.