Crypto Exchange 'Withdrawal Locked' Scam Examples
Messages impersonating crypto exchanges claim your withdrawal is locked and demand you pay a 'verification fee' or 'tax' before funds can be released — a fee you will never get back.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
[Exchange] Security: Your withdrawal of [amount] has been locked pending identity verification. Pay a [amount] compliance fee to unlock: [fake link]
Important notice from [Exchange] compliance team: Your account shows [amount] pending. To release funds, a [amount] anti-money-laundering deposit is required within 48 hours.
Your [Exchange] wallet withdrawal is on hold. Our system requires a [amount] tax-clearance payment before releasing [amount] to your external wallet: [fake link]
Congratulations — you have [amount] in your [Exchange] account. To complete your first withdrawal, verify your wallet by sending [amount] to this address: [fake wallet address]
What the scammer wants
To extract an upfront 'fee' and potentially additional funds by convincing you that paying will unlock a large sum that does not actually exist.
Red flags in the message
- Any request to pay a fee to release funds you already own
- Fake 'tax clearance', 'compliance', or 'insurance' charges
- Urgency — pay within hours or your account will be closed
- Communication arrives via unofficial email or social media DM
- The exchange login page URL does not match the real exchange domain
- You cannot find the balance on the real exchange website after logging in independently
A safe response
Log into the real exchange by typing its URL directly in your browser. Legitimate exchanges do not require you to pay fees from outside the platform to withdraw your own funds.
What not to send
- Cryptocurrency or fiat 'verification fees'
- Wallet seed phrases or private keys
- Account login credentials
What to do if you already replied
- Stop sending any further payments — each new fee request is part of the same scam
- Report the incident to your real exchange and to your country's financial regulator
- If seed phrases were shared, move remaining funds to a new wallet immediately
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot the full message or call details
- Note the sender number, email, or profile
- Save any links (without clicking) and payment details
- Record dates and times