- 1Am I being scammed?
- 2I’ve been scammed!
- 3I've tried everything
- 4I’m waiting for the govt
- 5The govt has taken action
- 6I'm receiving some money
The government has taken action
A letter arrived, you found a notice online about seized money that might be connected to your case, a victim program opened for the scam that hit you, or you suspect a seizure happened and want to confirm it.
The government may have recovered money and is now inviting victims to claim their share. But there is a deadline, and it is short - often 30 to 35 days.
Find the deadline on the notice, write it down, and don’t miss it
Missing the deadline can close the door permanently to recovering your money.
Find your situation
The following are common situations and recommended actions
A
A letter or a forfeiture.gov notice
The government seized funds tied to your case
A letter or a forfeiture.gov notice
- Confirm what you’re filing: as a victim, you file a petition for remission (as opposed to a claim, which contests who owns the money in court)Making the wrong filing wastes your short window.
- Find the deadline on the notice — often 30–35 days from the mailing date — and don’t miss it!
- File free at ocp.forfeiture.gov. Attach your IC3 report, police report, and timeline documentation.
Good to know: No lawyer is required, and there is never a fee to file a petition for remission.
B
Large programs with their own websites
Major case with many victims may setup a specific program
Large programs with their own websites
- Before entering any details, confirm the web address ends in .gov or is linked directly from a justice.gov page.Scammers build fake “remission” sites that copy the real ones. The .gov check is your safeguard.
- Follow that program’s steps and its deadline — large cases run on their own clock.
C
Forms from a prosecutor
A criminal case is asking for your losses
Forms from a prosecutor
- Fill out the victim-loss forms precisely and return them by the date given.The restitution amount the judge orders is set from these forms at sentencing.
- Keep your address current with the court clerk.Restitution is paid out through the court, sometimes over years. They need to know where to send it.
D
No letter yet — but I think they seized it
You suspect the government has your money
No letter yet — but I think they seized it
- Search forfeiture.gov for your wallet addresses, the platform’s name, and any scammer aliases.If money tied to your case was seized, this is the official place it’s listed — and where the filing window is announced.
- Check DOJ press releases and ftc.gov/refunds for the scam’s name.Big cases are often announced publicly before letters go out, with instructions for how victims file.
- Search CAS Wallet Tracker opens in a new tab for your wallet address and CAS Wallet Tracker opens in a new tab for cases which could be related to your situation.Critical if the remission deadline has been set, and you haven't received notice.
- Make sure your IC3 complaint contains every wallet address and transaction ID — file a supplement if you’ve found more since your original filing.Matching seized wallets against victim reports is how investigators find you. Missing information means missed matches.
- If a case names your scam, register with the DOJ Victim Notification System and contact the victim coordinator listed in the notice.
!
An unexpected “notice” demanding money
It asks for a fee or for your wallet keys
An unexpected “notice” demanding money
- Do not pay and do not share keys. Real notices never charge a fee to file and never ask for passwords or seed phrases.
- Cross-check anything you receive against forfeiture.gov before you act.
Good to know: When a “notice” creates urgency and asks for money or keys, slow down — that pressure is intended to make you act before you have all the facts.
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.
forfeiture.gov — File a Petition
How victims file for remission, with FAQs on what a notice means — then file online at ocp.forfeiture.gov, free, no lawyer needed.
How to file →Notice search
Search seizure notices for your wallet addresses and the platform’s name.
Search notices →ftc.gov/refunds
Verify any program or administrator before you enter details.
Verify a program →CAS Wallet Tracker
Search to confirm your wallet has been linked to a fraudulent crypto wallet.
Search wallets →CAS Case Tracker
Search for more information on litigation and cases which might involve your stolen funds.
Search cases →