I think I am in a crypto investment scam — what do I do?
Stop paying in — especially any "tax", "release fee" or "verification deposit" to withdraw; those are the second scam. Check the platform against the warning list of CNMV / Banco de España — advertencias (900 535 015) — unlicensed platforms are listed there and a listing is proof for your bank. Report to Policía Nacional — denuncia online / INCIBE 017 (017) with every wallet address and transaction ID; recovery is rare but the report freezes exchange accounts. Oficinas de Asistencia a las Víctimas del Delito (mjusticia.gob.es) collects the pattern and warns others. Beware of "recovery agencies" that contact you afterwards — same people.
🗣️ What to say
"Between [date] and [date] I sent [amount] to [platform / wallet addresses] on the advice of [name / contact channel]. The platform now refuses withdrawal unless I pay more. I believe it is fraud and want to report it; here are the transaction IDs."
🪜 Step by step
- Freeze everythingNo more transfers, no "fees", no remote-access sessions. Change passwords, remove any remote-control app they had you install.
- Collect the trailWallet addresses, transaction hashes, the exchange you bought through, chat history, the fake dashboard screenshots. This is the whole case.
- Tell your bank and the exchangeThe exchange you paid from can flag the destination; the bank can check whether any card or transfer step is reversible.
- Report to Policía Nacional — denuncia online / INCIBE 017Cybercrime units trace blockchain flows and freeze accounts at exchanges; the more transaction IDs, the better.
- Check the licence: CNMV / Banco de España — advertenciasIf the platform is not authorised in the EU, it has no right to hold your money — the regulator's warning helps with the bank and with any insurer.
📇 All contacts
❓ Frequently asked
Can the money be traced and recovered?
Traced, often; recovered, rarely, unless it sat at a regulated exchange that froze it. Report fast and keep every ID.
Someone offers to recover it for a fee
That is a recovery scam and frequently the same group. No legitimate agency asks for an upfront fee to recover crypto.
I gave them remote access to my computer
Disconnect, remove the software, change every password from another device, and warn your bank — they may have seen your online banking.
📎 Sources
- CNMV / Banco de España — advertencias →
- Policía Nacional — denuncia online / INCIBE 017 →
- Oficinas de Asistencia a las Víctimas del Delito →
- Banco de España — Departamento de Conducta de Entidades (reclamaciones) →
🔎 Common searches
Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.
- “crypto scam report Spain”
- “investment platform will not let me withdraw”
- “unlicensed crypto platform warning list Spain”
- “crypto fraud recovery”
- “report wallet address police”
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