I think I am in a crypto investment scam — what do I do?

Direct answer

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 Central Bank of Ireland — consumer protection (0818 681 681) — unlicensed platforms are listed there and a listing is proof for your bank. Report to An Garda Síochána — Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (999) with every wallet address and transaction ID; recovery is rare but the report freezes exchange accounts. Crime Victims Helpline — 116 006 (116 006) collects the pattern and warns others. Beware of "recovery agencies" that contact you afterwards — same people.

Call firstCentral Bank of Ireland — consumer protection

Report toAn Garda Síochána — Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau

If that failsCrime Victims Helpline — 116 006

🗣️ 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 An Garda Síochána — Garda National Cyber Crime BureauCybercrime units trace blockchain flows and freeze accounts at exchanges; the more transaction IDs, the better.
Check the licence: Central Bank of Ireland — consumer protectionIf 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

Central Bank of Ireland — consumer protectionSupervises financial firms; warning list of unauthorised firmsUnauthorised firms, systematic misconduct📞 0818 681 681 🔗 www.centralbank.ie/consumer-hub

An Garda Síochána — Garda National Cyber Crime BureauOnline fraud and cybercrime reporting via any Garda stationFor online scams and phishing📞 999 🔗 www.garda.ie/en/crime/cyber-crime

Crime Victims Helpline — 116 006Free victim support, information on the process, compensation tribunalAfter any crime📞 116 006 🔗 crimevictimshelpline.ie

Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO)Free, binding complaints against banks, lenders and insurersAfter a final response from the provider, or 40 working days📞 01 567 7000 🔗 www.fspo.ie

❓ 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

Last checked: 2026-09-26

🔎 Common searches

Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.

“crypto scam report Ireland”
“investment platform will not let me withdraw”
“unlicensed crypto platform warning list Ireland”
“crypto fraud recovery”
“report wallet address police”

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Related questions

Your tools for Ireland

Before it goes wrongCan I?What is allowed, what is not, which permit you need — with the official source.Energy · IrelandElectricity & gasThe rules that protect you as an electricity and gas customer in Ireland, and who to contact. Every fact is checked on an official source.Recognise it firstIs dit veilig?Check a phone number, website or message against 47,000 scam dossiers.

💎 I think I am in a crypto investment scam — what do I do?