Crypto fraud: tracing payments, asserting claims
Bitcoin, Ether or USDT sent to a supposed trading platform — and now the payout is “blocked” and support has gone quiet? We trace the payment flows, approach exchanges, banks and investigating authorities, and assert your claims — across Germany. It starts with a free initial assessment.
Have your case checked — free, in 3 steps
- No guarantee of success
- No cold calling
- Transparent costs
- Confidential & GDPR-compliant
What to do after crypto fraud
In short
Stop all further transfers, secure transaction IDs and wallet addresses, and have the payment route examined immediately. Because on-chain transfers are irreversible, speed is the decisive factor: funds can sometimes still be identified at an exchange subject to KYC obligations before they are cashed out.
Recognising the pattern
Typical crypto fraud schemes
Fake exchanges and trading apps
A professional-looking platform displays rising balances. The figures are pure display — the deposits were never invested and typically moved on straight away.
Pig butchering via social media
Contact begins on a dating app or messenger and becomes friendly, even romantic, over weeks. Only then does the “exclusive” crypto investment appear.
Supposed wallet verification
You are asked to confirm a seed phrase or connect your wallet for “verification”. Whoever holds the seed phrase controls the assets.
Advance fees before payout
A withdrawal is requested and suddenly taxes, mining fees or deposits become due. Every payment made produces the next demand.
If the contact began on a dating app or on social media and an investment only came up weeks later, this is not a crypto case in the narrow sense: the scheme is called a romance scam or pig butchering, and we cover it on Romance scam & pig butchering.
Legal basis
Where the law still bites — even with cryptocurrency
Paying in cryptocurrency does not create a legal vacuum. Deceiving investors in order to obtain payments is fraud under § 263 StGB, regardless of the means of payment. Under civil law, claims under § 823(2) BGB in conjunction with a protective statute and under § 826 BGB for intentional damage contrary to public policy come into consideration. Where a platform conducted licensable business in Germany without authorisation, § 32 KWG gives a further legal foothold.
In practice, three starting points matter above all:
- Following the chain. Transactions remain publicly visible. What is needed is not the transfer itself but the point at which the trail meets a regulated intermediary.
- Exchanges with KYC obligations. Where funds reach an exchange that identifies its customers, information can be obtained and assets frozen — frequently via the investigating authorities and access to the file under § 406e StPO.
- The fiat entry point. Almost every case begins with a euro payment — SEPA transfer, card payment or a payment service. That leg is often the most tangible one legally.
In criminal proceedings, assets can additionally be secured through confiscation and asset freezing (§§ 73 et seq. StGB, §§ 111b et seq. StPO). Whether that succeeds depends on the case — we say so plainly rather than raising expectations.
Our approach
How we act in crypto fraud cases
- 01
Secure the case
Transaction IDs, wallet addresses, chats and platform screenshots are documented in a form that can be used in proceedings.
- 02
Trace the money
We follow the payment route to the point where it meets a regulated intermediary — exchange, payment service or bank.
- 03
Criminal complaint & file access
A well-founded complaint opens the door to freezing orders; access under § 406e StPO frequently supplies the decisive information.
- 04
Civil enforcement
We assert claims against identifiable perpetrators, participants and, where tenable, along the payment route.
The initial assessment is free of charge. If costs arise after that, we bill under the statutory scale (RVG) or a fee agreement discussed in advance — agreed up front, with no hidden charges.
Honesty instead of promises
What we do not promise you
Crypto cases are among the harder ones. Trails go cold, perpetrators are based abroad, and nobody can guarantee you the return of your coins. Anyone who claims otherwise is selling you the next scam.
- No guarantee of success
- Reputable legal work comes without guarantees. We tell you honestly which steps stand a chance in your case — and which do not.
- No cold calling
- We never contact fraud victims unsolicited. Anyone who calls you out of the blue promising to recover your money is very likely a fraudster themselves.
- Transparent costs
- Fees follow clear rules — the German statutory fee scale (RVG) or a written agreement — and are explained before any work begins. No hidden upfront charges.
- Confidential & GDPR-compliant
- Your information is treated confidentially and processed exclusively within the EU.
Common questions
Crypto fraud — questions we are often asked
Can Bitcoin payments be traced?
Technically yes: the blockchain is a public ledger, and payment flows can often be followed as far as an exchange or a cash-out point. The hurdle is attribution — who stands behind a wallet address only emerges from information held by exchanges (KYC data) or from the investigations of law enforcement; mixers and rapid onward transfers make that harder still. So tracing is possible, but repayment does not follow automatically from it.
What if the perpetrators are based abroad?
That is the rule rather than the exception, and it does make matters harder — but it does not automatically make them hopeless. Frequently there are points of contact within Germany or the EU: bank accounts used for the initial fiat deposit, payment service providers, or exchanges subject to KYC obligations. We examine which of these routes exists in your case and say clearly when none is apparent.
How quickly do I need to act in a crypto fraud case?
Faster than with a bank transfer. On-chain transfers cannot be reversed, so what matters is following the funds while they are still identifiable and, where possible, having them frozen at an exchange. The first days are the most valuable — but even later it is often still worth documenting the case and having it assessed.
What does representation in crypto fraud cases cost?
The initial assessment is free and without obligation. After that we bill under the German Lawyers’ Remuneration Act (RVG) or on the basis of a fee agreement discussed in advance — you know what costs arise before every step. If you hold legal expenses insurance, we handle the coverage enquiry for you.
Someone offered to recover my coins — should I accept?
Very probably not. So-called recovery scams target people who have already fallen victim to crypto fraud: recovery of the coins is promised against advance fees, and nothing is delivered. Reputable law firms give no guarantee of success, do not sell “hacker services” and never approach affected people unsolicited. Verify any provider through official registers before paying money again.
Free initial assessment
Describe your case — free initial assessment
Bullet points are enough. You will get an assessment of which steps come into consideration in your case — free and without obligation.
Free and without obligation. Costs only arise if you expressly instruct us afterwards — the fee under the RVG or a written fee agreement is discussed with you in advance. If you hold legal expenses insurance, we check the cover for you.
Who we can act for
We are admitted in Germany and act under German law. We can normally help when at least one of these is true: you live in Germany, you paid from a bank or exchange account in Germany or the EU, or a company, bank or payment provider involved is based here. For people in Austria or Switzerland we can act where the case has a connection to Germany or the EU — a bank, a payment provider or a party based here. If none applies, say so in your enquiry — we will tell you plainly whether we can act.
Your next step
Have your crypto case reviewed now
Wallet addresses, transaction IDs and the name of the platform are enough to start. We examine where the coins went and where the law offers a foothold.
Free and without obligation. Costs only arise if you expressly instruct us afterwards — the fee under the RVG or a written fee agreement is discussed with you in advance. If you hold legal expenses insurance, we check the cover for you.
No guarantee of success — but a clear assessment. Your data is never passed on and is processed exclusively within the EU.
- 01You describe your case — online or by phone
- 02We get back to you promptly
- 03You receive an initial assessment — free and without obligation