How long do I have to react after a crypto scam?

Act immediately. The first 24 to 72 hours are decisive: this is the window in which a platform or a bank may still freeze funds before they are laundered or converted. Tracing remains possible later, but recovery becomes harder.

Crypto scam: how to recover your money in Switzerland

Q: Can you recover money after a crypto scam?

Yes, it is sometimes possible, but it is never guaranteed. The odds depend on how quickly you react, on where the funds ended up (a regulated platform or not), on the quality of your evidence and on the cooperation of banks, exchanges and authorities. The faster you act, the more realistic it is to trace and freeze the funds.

Q: Should I be wary of companies that promise to recover my funds?

Yes. Be wary of any company that guarantees the recovery of your funds or that demands fees payable upfront, especially in cryptocurrency: this is a very common scam that targets victims who have already been defrauded. A serious provider first assesses your case and stays honest about your real chances.

Q: Where do I report a crypto scam in Switzerland?

You can file a criminal complaint with your cantonal police, report the facts online via Suisse ePolice, forward the case to the FOCS (Swiss National Cyber Security Centre) and check whether the operator appears on FINMA's warning list. Fraud is punishable under Article 146 of the Swiss Criminal Code.

Did you invest on a fake platform or send cryptocurrency to a scammer? Here is what to do, step by step, to maximise your chances of recovery — and the traps to avoid.

By the ScamHunter.ch investigation team · Updated 19 July 2026 · 7 min read

Visualisation of blockchain transactions traced from a wallet to a regulated platform — Editorial illustration: tracing documents public flows; it does not guarantee a freeze or fund recovery.

Fund recovery after a cryptocurrency scam is never guaranteed, but it is sometimes possible. Everything comes down to three factors: your speed of reaction, the quality of your evidence and the traceability of the funds. This guide details the actions to take right now, in order.

The essentials in brief — 1) Stop all payments. 2) Document every piece of evidence. 3) Alert your bank and the platform within 24-72 h. 4) File a criminal complaint (Art. 146 Swiss Criminal Code) with your cantonal police or Suisse ePolice. 5) Have the money flows traced by specialist investigators. 6) Beware of "fund recovery" operators who demand payment upfront.

1. Act fast: the first 24 to 72 hours

The moment fraud is suspected, time works against you. Once converted or spread across several wallets, cryptocurrency becomes far harder to freeze. Within this window:

Stop all payments immediately. No "unlock fee", "tax" or "withdrawal fee" is ever needed to recover an asset: it is a classic technique used to squeeze more money out of you.
Do not cut off contact abruptly before you have saved everything: first keep the messages, profiles and contact details.
Contact your bank if the funds left via a bank transfer (card or SEPA): a block or a funds recall is sometimes still possible very early on.

2. Gather the essential evidence

A solid case is what separates a shelved complaint from a workable investigation. Collect the following, dated and legible:

The destination wallet addresses and the transaction identifiers (hash / TXID).
The bank statements and transfer confirmations to the platform or exchange.
The screenshots of the site, the app, the "account" showing fake gains, and of every conversation (WhatsApp, Telegram, emails, text messages).
The exact URLs, phone numbers, names and photos used by the scammer.

Investigator's tip — Wallet addresses and TXIDs are the key to tracing on the blockchain. Keep them carefully: they make it possible to follow the path of the funds to platforms where a seizure is sometimes conceivable.

3. Report the scam and file a complaint in Switzerland

In Switzerland, fraud is punishable under Article 146 of the Swiss Criminal Code. Several channels are complementary:

Cantonal police: file a criminal complaint with your canton (Geneva, Vaud, Zurich…). This is the central step.
Suisse ePolice: the national portal lets you report an online scam without leaving home.
FOCS (Swiss National Cyber Security Centre): report cases of fraud and phishing to feed national threat monitoring.
FINMA: check whether the platform appears on the warning list of unauthorised providers, and report it where relevant.

You are not required to have filed a complaint before starting a private investigation: both processes can move forward in parallel.

4. Alert your bank and the platform

If your funds passed through a regulated exchange (full KYC), a freeze request coordinated with the police has a better chance of succeeding. For bank transfers, ask your institution in writing to activate a funds recall procedure and to preserve the information on the beneficiary account. Note down every reference and every contact person.

5. Trace the funds: what the investigation can find

Contrary to a common belief, most blockchains are public and traceable. From the TXIDs, a money-flow analysis (chain analysis) can often:

follow the path of the funds through intermediary wallets;
identify the entry point into a regulated service (exchange, processor) where legal proceedings can be initiated;
cross-reference, using OSINT techniques, the aliases, infrastructure and digital identities linked to the scam.

This work produces an investigation report that your lawyer and the authorities can use to support a request for seizure or reimbursement.

6. Your real chances of recovery

Let's be honest: there is no universal success rate. The odds depend on how old the facts are, on the nature of the scam, on where the funds went and on how responsive the parties involved are. A recent, well-documented case whose funds end up on a regulated platform offers far better prospects than an old case with patchy evidence. A serious assessment of your chances can only be given after your case has been reviewed.

7. The trap to avoid: the recovery scam

Warning — A second wave of scammers specifically targets victims who have already been defrauded. They present themselves as "fund recovery experts", guarantee a refund and demand fees payable upfront (often in crypto). No serious provider guarantees a result or asks for full payment upfront before any analysis. When in doubt, check the identity, address and traceability of the company.

Have your case reviewed

Our OSINT investigators identify who is behind the facts, trace the money flows and build a complete case for your next steps. Feasibility assessment before any commitment.

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The ScamHunter.ch investigation team

Investigators specialised in OSINT, tracing money flows and digital investigation after online scams. Based in Switzerland, in Geneva.

Frequently asked questions

Can you recover money after a crypto scam?

Yes, it is sometimes possible, but never guaranteed. The odds depend on how quickly you react, on where the funds went, on the quality of your evidence and on the cooperation of banks, exchanges and authorities.

How long do I have to react?

Act immediately. The first 24 to 72 hours are decisive if you hope to freeze funds before they are spread out or converted.

Should I be wary of companies that promise to recover my funds?

Yes. Be wary of any company that guarantees recovery or demands fees upfront, especially in cryptocurrency: this is a widespread scam that targets victims who have already been defrauded.

Where do I report a crypto scam in Switzerland?

With your cantonal police, via Suisse ePolice, with the FOCS, and by checking FINMA's warning list. Fraud falls under Article 146 of the Swiss Criminal Code.

Official sources

This article is for information only and is not individual legal advice. For any decision, consult a qualified professional about your situation.