by Got scammed or worried about Bitcoin fraud? Learn how sharing your story with Chainabuse and Scamwatch can help protect you and others from falling victim.
Key takeaways
Chainabuse allows anyone to publicly share information with enforcement, helping make crypto fraud more transparent, but it’s not a confidential legal channel.
Scamwatch helps raise public awareness about crypto scams in Australia and gathers reports to support national anti-scam efforts, but it does not investigate or take enforcement action. Even if funds can’t be recovered, reporting a Bitcoin scam can prevent someone else from falling into the same trap.
Staying vigilant, avoiding suspicious links or promises of guaranteed returns and double-checking addresses can help protect your crypto.
It begins with an apparently innocent message, like a friend offering a crypto opportunity or an internet stranger guaranteeing big Bitcoin
BTC
$107,566
profits. Before you realize it, the person on the other end vanishes, and your money, cryptocurrency or fiat, is gone. Unfortunately, as cryptocurrency frauds become increasingly complex and omnipresent, incidents like this are becoming all too usual.
Even though recovering stolen money can often be tricky, there is something you can do: Report the scam. By sharing your story, other people can be protected from falling into the same trap, and platforms like Chainabuse and Scamwatch help facilitate this process.
This article explores how to detect and report Bitcoin scams and use trusted tools to protect yourself and others.
What are Chainabuse and Scamwatch?
When reporting crypto scams, knowing where to report is as important as what to report. Two tools that can help you report crypto fraud are Chainabuse and Scamwatch, each offering different but valuable ways to take action.
Chainabuse is a global reporting platform designed to fight crypto scams at scale. It allows anyone to report malicious crypto activity, from fake Bitcoin wallet addresses to phishing sites. Reports are public, helping protect others and alerting top crypto organizations in real time.
Additionally, users can access general guidance on how to stay safe and report the incident to law enforcement, based on similar reports submitted to the platform.
Chainabuse also connects related reports, helping expose larger scams and supporting investigations.
Scamwatch is operated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to collect scam reports, share warnings and help disrupt fraud. When you report a scam, your information helps identify the most harmful scams affecting Australians.
Scamwatch may share data trends and insights with law enforcement and other government agencies to support broader investigations, but individual reports are not automatically escalated or acted upon.
Its website, social media accounts and tools such as the Little Book of Scams provide helpful guidance on identifying, avoiding and recovering from scams. Scamwatch helps protect Australians from fraud both online and offline by collaborating with companies, governmental organizations and the general public.
Both platforms aim to empower users, raise awareness and support broader efforts to fight crypto-related fraud.
Did you know? In 2024, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received over 140,000 complaints involving cryptocurrency scams, totaling $9.3 billion in losses. Older adults over 60 were the most impacted, filing about 33,000 complaints and losing approximately $2.8 billion. The numbers highlight how crucial scam awareness and reporting have become, especially for protecting vulnerable communities.
How to use Chainabuse and Scamwatch to report a Bitcoin scammer
Reporting a cryptocurrency scammer is easier than it sounds, especially with platforms like Chainabuse and Scamwatch.
Before you begin, gather as many details as possible. This includes what happened, how you were contacted, the scammer’s wallet address, etc. The more context you provide, the easier it is for investigators, platforms and other users to spot patterns.
Reporting Bitcoin scammers on Chainabuse
To report a Bitcoin scam on Chainabuse, visit Chainabuse.com and click “Report Your Case.” You’ll be asked to choose a scam category from a dropdown list.
Then, describe what happened in detail. Try to stick to facts while leaving out personal information. If you can, upload any screenshots or documents that support your case.
