Crypto loss recovery is different from credit-card disputes or bank chargebacks. In many cases, “recovery” means taking fast steps to document what happened, trace transactions where possible, and report the fraud through the right channels so investigators can act.

While full repayment is not guaranteed, rapid reporting and clean documentation can increase the chances of limiting additional losses and may support restitution if enforcement actions follow.

If you think you’ve been scammed, the goal is to stop further loss, secure accounts, and preserve proof.

Crypto scams often involve out-of-state or international actors. Reporting to more than one agency can help connect patterns and support enforcement.

Utah reporting options (general categories):

• Local police department: Make a fraud report (use non-emergency channels unless there’s immediate danger).
• Utah consumer protection regulators: File a report describing the scam, platform, and transaction details.

Federal reporting options (general categories):

• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): Useful for online fraud patterns and data aggregation.
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Consumer fraud reporting that can support broader enforcement.

If your funds moved through a mainstream exchange, also preserve your exchange records and consider contacting the exchange’s support and fraud channels with the transaction hash and wallet details.

Scammers use a small set of repeating playbooks. Recognizing the pattern can help you explain what happened clearly in reports.

Scenario A: Romance or “pig-butchering” schemes

A relationship or friendship forms online, then shifts into “investing together.” Victims are directed to a platform that appears legitimate and shows growing balances. Withdrawals trigger fees or tax demands, and the scam escalates.

Scenario B: Fake exchanges or “investment managers”

You’re told a “manager” can trade for you or get you early access to a coin. The dashboard looks professional, and early “returns” are displayed on screen but the numbers are not real.

Scenario C: Recovery scams after the loss

After you lose money, someone claims they can recover it often posing as an investigator, attorney, or blockchain expert. They request upfront fees, then disappear or keep charging.

Recovery depends on the facts especially how quickly you act, where the crypto went, and whether investigators can identify a suspect with jurisdiction. In some cases, enforcement actions lead to restitution orders, but outcomes vary widely.

Even when full recovery is unlikely, reporting still matters. It can help law enforcement connect your case with others, identify repeat offenders, and stop future victims from being harmed.

• Be cautious with any “guaranteed returns” or urgency-based investment pitches.
• Verify exchanges and platforms independently (not through links sent to you).
• Assume “recovery services” demanding upfront fees are high risk.
• Keep records of transfers, wallet addresses, and transaction hashes for your own audit trail.