IndependentCase ReviewRecovery guides
Short, practical guides on crypto scam recovery — what works, what does not, and which steps to take first. Written for people who lost money trading or investing in crypto and need a clear next step.
In many cases, yes — partially or in full. Crypto transfers themselves are hard to reverse, but the payments leading to them usually are not: card payments can be charged back, bank transfers can be recalled, and traced crypto can be frozen at exchange off-ramps. The outcome depends mostly on how quickly you act and whether you use the right channel for each payment.
Read the guideReport the fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre as soon as you notice it, and complain to your provincial securities commission if the platform claims to be licensed. The report creates the official paper trail that banks and exchanges need before they will freeze funds.
Read the guidePig butchering is a long-con investment scam: fraudsters build a personal relationship over weeks — often through dating apps, social media, or wrong-number messages — then guide victims to a fake trading platform that shows fabricated profits. The losses are real; the profits on the screen are not.
Read the guideCard payments can be reversed through a chargeback, bank transfers can be recalled if the bank acts quickly, and crypto transfers cannot be reversed but can be traced and frozen at exchange off-ramps. Recovery works when each payment is routed through the channel that can actually reverse it.
Read the guideAfter a scam, victims are targeted a second time by fake 'recovery agents' who promise guaranteed results and ask for upfront fees, wallet access, or ${f.currency} payments — then disappear. No legitimate firm can guarantee recovery, and none will ever ask for your private keys or seed phrase.
Read the guideScammers use AI-generated videos of celebrities, executives, or a fake 'account manager' to promote fraudulent trading platforms — the footage looks real, the platform and its profits are not. Verify every platform against your regulator's register before you deposit anything.
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