Am I being scammed?
You’re here if
You’ve sent money or crypto somewhere and something feels wrong — but you can still log in, and no one has flatly refused to give your money back yet. Or you haven’t sent anything, but you are receiving a pitch, have concerns about your account security, or similar concerns that you want to check out.
What this means
Depending on the scam, the money may already be gone — a website may still show a growing balance, but that balance can be just numbers on a screen the scammer controls, not money waiting for you. A scam may already be in progress without an obvious signal. Fast, calm action now may still stop the loss.
Stop sending money — and don’t tell them you’re suspicious.
Every extra payment adds to the potential loss. If you confront the scammer, they may vanish faster and take everything still in reach. Pause and thoughtfully plan your next move.
Find your situation
Review the scenario that sounds most similar to your situation. You may have hours and not days or week to take action.
A
“They’re still asking me for more money”
A tax, fee, or another deposit to “unlock” or “release” your funds
“They’re still asking me for more money”
- Don’t pay another cent — and don’t argue. If you need to buy time, say something neutral like “I need a few days to move funds around.”Confronting them may make them disappear immediately with whatever’s still in reach. Stay calm and keeps your options open.
- Look up the platform on the DFPI Crypto Scam Tracker opens in a new tab and the wallet address on Chainabuse opens in a new tab.These are free, searchable databases of scams other victims reported. A match means you may be entangled in a scam.
- If the scammer is posing as a financial institution or investment opportunity, check whether the entity or company is registered to handle money: the CFTC RED List opens in a new tab for foreign firms and Investor.gov opens in a new tab for anyone claiming to be an investment advisor.Legitimate platforms are registered. If it’s not on any regulator’s radar, that’s your answer.
- If any of your regular payments fail — or you simply can’t withdraw — stop completely and move to the next stage.
Good to know: The “release fee” is likely a scam. Legitimate platform do not charge fees to withdraw your money.
B
“I’m just suspicious — no one’s pushing me”
Something feels off, but there’s no pressure and no blocked withdrawal yet
“I’m just suspicious — no one’s pushing me”
- Screenshot everything right now, while the site still loads: your balance, the withdrawal screen, every chat, and the full web address.Scam sites vanish without warning. Once it’s gone, so is your evidence — capture it while you can.
- Try to withdraw a small amount. Watch what happens.A real platform lets you. A scam will stall, invent a fee, or lock the request — that’s the tell.
- Look up the company on Investor.gov opens in a new tab — search its name plus the word “scam.”Being early is the strongest position on this entire road. A few minutes of checking now can save everything.
- Don’t add any more money until you are certain you’re not being scammed.
C
“This is happening to someone I love”
A parent or friend who doesn’t believe it’s a scam yet
“This is happening to someone I love”
- Don’t open with being judgmental.” Ask gentle, curious questions instead: how did you find this, can we look at it together?Scammers actively coach victims to distrust family. A head-on accusation usually pushes them closer to the scammer, not away.
- Quietly gather the details you’ll need: the platform’s name and web address, the wallet addresses, and how much has been sent.You may need to act on their behalf, and you can — but only with the specifics in hand.
- Call a free helpline for coaching before the hard conversation: AARP’s Fraud Watch at 877-908-3360, or the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311.These are trained specialists who talk families through exactly this, every single day.
Helpful resources
Many resources like the following are free. While you may find useful paid resources, remember that it’s free to report a crime and file a claim.
DFPI Crypto Scam Tracker
Search by company, wallet, or scam type — real complaints, plus a glossary of how each scam works.
Search the tracker →CFTC RED List
Foreign firms that appear to need registration but aren’t registered. Check before you trade.
Check the list →Investor.gov
The SEC’s tool to confirm whether a firm or advisor is actually registered.
Verify a firm →Chainabuse
Paste a wallet address to see if others already reported it as a scam.
Search an address →Note: these steps are written for the most common patterns of crypto fraud — fake investment platforms and similar schemes. Most steps apply to any type of scam.